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Cited by 67Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive HealthAdolescent Health and BehaviorsSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Young age at first intercourse and risk-taking behaviours--a study of nearly 65 000 women in four Nordic countries

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Olesen, T. B., Jensen, K. E., Nygard, M., Tryggvadottir, L., Sparen, P., Hansen, B. T., Liaw, K.-L., Kjaer, S. K.·2012·The European Journal of Public Health
DOI 10.1093/eurpub/ckr055
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Risk-taking behaviours such as early initiation of smoking, alcohol drinking and sexual activity often cluster within individuals and could be characteristics of adolescents who in general are risk takers. In the present study, using a large population-based sample of 64 659 women aged 18-45 years in four Nordic countries, we investigate whether young age at first sexual intercourse is associated with subsequent risk-taking behaviours. METHODS: We examined the association between young age at first sexual intercourse (age ≤14 years) and subsequent risk-taking behaviours by using multivariate logistic regression by which odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated. RESULTS: The OR of reporting more than 10 lifetime sexual partners was almost four times higher among women who reported a young age at first intercourse (OR = 3.79; 95% CI: 3.60-4.00) in comparison with women >14 years at first intercourse. Furthermore, women who were young at first intercourse were more likely to report two or more recent partners (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.54-1.82) and to have a history of STIs (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.93-2.13). In addition, young age at first intercourse was associated with current smoking (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.20-2.43) and binge drinking (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.28-1.44). All ORs were adjusted for age, years of education and country of residence. CONCLUSION: Young age at first intercourse is associated with subsequent risk-taking behaviours. Our study emphasizes the importance of targeting prevention efforts towards the complexity of risk-taking behaviours.

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  • Among nearly 65,000 Nordic women, those with younger age at first intercourse (younger than 14 years) were 4 times more likely to report 10 lifetime partners and nearly twice as likely to report 2 or more recent sex partners in the past 6 months compared with those with older age at first intercourse (older than 14 years).

    “Similarly, among nearly 65,000 Nordic women, women with younger age at first intercourse (<14 years) were 4 times more likely to report 10 lifetime partners and nearly twice as likely to report 2 or more recent sex partners (past 6 months) compared with older age at first intercourse (>14 years).1”

    From Sex in a Lifetime: Sexual Behaviors in the United States by Lifetime Number of Sex Partners, 2006-2010 (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

    The Results report adjusted odds ratios of 3.79 for more than 10 lifetime partners and 1.67 for two or more recent partners; the Statistical analysis defines recent partners as new partners in the past six months. But the study compares women whose first intercourse was at age 14 or younger with those older than 14, not women younger than 14, and its lifetime-partner threshold is more than 10, not 10. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • The study's findings that lifetime number of sex partners is associated with number of recent sex partners and age at sexual debut are supported by other studies.

    “Our findings that lifetime number of sex partners is associated with (a) the number of recent sex partners and (b) age at sexual debut are supported by other studies.1–3,17–20”

    From Sex in a Lifetime: Sexual Behaviors in the United States by Lifetime Number of Sex Partners, 2006-2010 (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

    The Results (page unavailable) show that younger age at first intercourse was associated with both more lifetime partners and more recent partners, supporting the sexual-debut part of the citing sentence. The paper does not report a direct association between lifetime and recent partner counts; it analyzes each in relation to age at first intercourse. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Prior research has found associations between lifetime sexual behaviors and both age at sexual debut and recent sexual behaviors.

    “Studies have shown an association between lifetime sexual behaviors and age at sexual debut1,2 and recent sexual behaviors3; however, few studies have examined the relationship between these behaviors using data from national surveys.”

    From Sex in a Lifetime: Sexual Behaviors in the United States by Lifetime Number of Sex Partners, 2006-2010 (2014) · cites this paper as [1]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [15]15. Stuart-Smith S. Teenage sex. BMJ 1996;312:390-1.

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    Haderxhanaj, L. T., Leichliter, J. S., Aral, S. O., & Chesson, H. W. (2014) · Sexually Transmitted Diseases · doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000000132 · Cited by 18 · see citing works

    “Such data are useful (1) to illustrate heterogeneity in sexual behavior by sex, age, and lifetime number of sex partners to aid STI prevention efforts and (2) to inform mathematical models of STIs that often classify the population according to sexual activity level, based on the frequency at which…”

Related

Authors
Olesen, T. B., Jensen, K. E., Nygard, M., Tryggvadottir, L., Sparen, P., Hansen, B. T., Liaw, K.-L., & Kjaer, S. K.
Affiliations
  • Danish Cancer Society (DK)
  • Cancer Registry of Norway (NO)
  • Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States) (US)
ORCID
Venue
The European Journal of Public Health
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2011-05-19
Volume
22
Issue
2
Pages
220-224
ISSN
  • 1101-1262 (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-360X
DOI
10.1093/eurpub/ckr055
OpenAlex
W2149095140
Cited by
67
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
8.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Health and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
age at first sexual intercourse, risk-taking, sexual partners, sexually transmitted infections, smoking, binge drinking, adolescent sexual initiation, women, prevention targeting
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Coitus, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Female, Humans, Iceland, Middle Aged, Norway, Surveys and Questionnaires, Registries, Risk-Taking, Sexual Partners, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Smoking, Sweden, Prevalence, Odds Ratio, Young Adult, Binge Drinking

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