More than 200 teenagers, aged 14 to 19, were asked what factors influenced the length of time they waited to have sex with partners.
The more boys valued sex, the quicker they wanted to have sex. But if girls valued intimacy, they were likely to delay having sex.
The researchers concluded: "Health education should address the value of sex and intimacy in relationships and offer alternative ways of being sexual and satisfying intimacy before starting on sexual intercourse."
The findings come as the Office for National Statistics released figures showing that STIs in young people under the age of 20 doubled between 1991 and 2001.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
