Teen Pregnancy Facts and Individual
Antecedents of Teen Pregnancy - Part 3
Teen Pregnancy - Individual Antecedents - Part 3
When teens engage in other risk taking behaviours such as using drugs or have emotional problems such as depression, the likelihood of them engaging in sex and becoming pregnant increases. These antecedents may represent the influence of environment or personality traits, and are significantly related to each other. Two interpretations regarding the relationship between risky sexual behaviours and substance abuse are commonly accepted and both are possibly valid. The first is that the environment supports the risky behaviour and that there is a general preference to engage in such behaviour. The second interpretation is that the occurrence of unprotected sex is increased through the lowering of inhibitions by drugs and alcohol. (Kirby, 2002).
Many important changes come with increasing age. The older teens become, the more likely they are to engage in sex because of biological as well as social reasons. As they become more physically mature and their hormone levels increase, there may be a greater desire for sex, love and intimacy. With greater social freedom comes more opportunities to engage in sex and there may be pressure to do so. The biological antecedents cannot be changed but can be used to identify higher risk teens. The earlier teens become romantically involved the likelier they are to engage in sexual behaviour earlier. Sex is initiated earlier when teens date often and early. Within a romantic relationship teens may perceive it more normal to engage in sex than in a casual relationship. An adolescent is particularly likely to engage in sex when the romantic partner is three or more years older than them. This antecedent has a significant impact, especially in middle school children. (Kirby, 2002).
