ERIC Number: EJ1071589
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0743-5584
EISSN: N/A
"It Felt Good but Weird at the Same Time": Emerging Adults' First Experiences of Six Different Sexual Behaviors
Vasilenko, Sara A.; Maas, Megan K.; Lefkowitz, Eva S.
Journal of Adolescent Research, v30 n5 p586-606 Sep 2015
Although sexual behavior is multidimensional, little research has focused on the experience of nonintercourse behaviors for adolescents and emerging adults. This article uses open-ended coded data from a longitudinal study of college students (N = 346; M age = 18.5, 52% female, 27% Hispanic/Latino [HL], 25% non-HL European American, 23% non-HL Asian American, 16% non-HL African American, 9% non-HL multiracial) to examine what emotional responses emerging adults report about their first experiences of six sexual behaviors. The four most common emotional reactions were happy, excited, fearful, and indifferent. Descriptions were largely positive, although mixed reactions were relatively common and emotional reactions varied by behavior. Results suggest the importance of including multiple types of sexual behaviors, as well as their possible positive and negative outcomes, in sexuality education programs.
Descriptors: Sexuality, Experience, College Students, Late Adolescents, Young Adults, Longitudinal Studies, Emotional Response, Sex Education, Student Surveys, Hierarchical Linear Modeling
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH); National Institute on Drug Abuse (DHHS/PHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R01 AA016016; 2T32DA 017629; P50 DA010075