A new study reports that teenagers are having less sex.

The article does not get into details of kinds of sex but it says that "The survey found 41% said they had had sex, after it had been about 47% over the previous decade."

It seems difficult to believe in this very sexualized society that the numbers would be declining.

My only thoughts are the access to pornography is so much greater the guys have "other outlets" and also that parents so schedule every minute of their children's days and know what is happening all the time maybe there is not the opportunity.

I know when I was young in the 70s and 80s before AIDS we still had the benefit of leftover mindset from the 60s "if it feels good do it" there was little talk about negatives - STD's were all curable and there was easy access to birth control and abortions.

Now the article refers to this as "the cautious generation".

Teens having less sex and are drinking and using drugs less often, study finds - LA Times

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The "cautious generation" quote came from Bill Albert of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. I glanced very quickly at their website and I saw they're a very reputable and award-winning organization, including an award from Planned Parenthood.

The study's bi-annual by the CDC. They say they don't know the reason for the drop.
Beth Mattey, President of the National Association of School Nurses "suggested a factor may be how much more common it is for teens to openly discuss sex and sexual orientation." Although she also mentioned educating kids to have more self-respect and self-esteem, it seems to me the barrage of bullying and cyberbullying you hear about undermines that for some.

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The fact it is more common for teens to talk about sex and orientation is something I would think would make it easier to be sexually active - especially for gay and bisexual teens.

When I grew up even if you thought someone might be into it you never knew for sure - and if you dared make that first step it was always a risk that he could say no and either no longer be your friend or worse - out you.

By knowing someone was into guys that is a much better starting point. Even if he was not into you at least there would have been much less of a risk he would turn on you or expose you.

I also find it funny that people automatically feel that "more self-respect and self-esteem" means someone is less likely to have sex. True they are less likely to be pressured or manipulated into it - but these studies always make it sound like if you have self-respect you are a virgin.

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Agreed! Remember Salt-N-Pepa's Let's Talk About Sex? On the other hand, quality matters: Me too! It was only by gaining self-respect and self-esteem in my early 20s that I felt confident enough to claim the gay identity I knew I had, including having sex. Before that, I was isolated and afraid.

Maybe back in the 70s and 80s a gay identity was more associated with one's sexual self. Now it's a larger cultural phenomenon.

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