Abstract
Compared to studies on sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention, sexual pleasure has received limited attention in the adolescent sexual development literature. In the present study, we used data from 157 adolescents (66 females; 14 to 17 years old), with a partnered sexual experience in the past 12 months to explore adolescents’ sexual pleasure. First, we examined adolescents’ perceptions of pleasure during their most recent partnered sexual experience. We then used information about those sexual experiences to identify correlates of sexual pleasure. Adolescents’ reports of sexual pleasure were mixed. Although 17.8% reported their sexual experience was extremely pleasurable and 36.5% reported it was quite pleasurable, 26.6% indicated moderate pleasure, 13.1% a little pleasure, and 3.3% reported no pleasure. Sexual pleasure was primarily associated with aspects of sexual experiences that reflected socioemotional intimacy and desire. Specifically, cuddling with partners, emotional intimacy, and wantedness were all associated with greater sexual pleasure. Additionally, adolescents found sex more pleasurable when it occurred with a friend, but less pleasurable when it involved genital rubbing. Most sexual behaviors, having experienced orgasm, and the situational context of sexual experiences were not associated with sexual pleasure. Thus, specific sexual behaviors and orgasm may have less impact on sexual pleasure than feelings of emotional intimacy and desire. The diversity of perceived sexual pleasure and its associations with intimacy and desire suggest that, during adolescence, partnered sexual experiences are not primarily motivated by anticipated physical pleasure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arbeit, M. R. (2014). What does healthy sex look like among youth? Towards a skills-based model for promoting adolescent sexuality development. Human Development, 57, 259–286. https://doi.org/10.1159/000367856
Beckmeyer, J. J., Herbenick, D., Fu, T.-C., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2020). Prevalence of romantic experiences and competencies among 14 to 17 year olds: Implications for the primary care setting. Clinical Pediatrics, 59(2), 116–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922819885659
Bowker, J. C., & Etkin, R. G. (2016). Evaluating the psychological concomitants of other-sex crush experiences during early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(5), 846–857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0470-x
Brown, L. K., DiClemente, R., Crosby, R., Fernandez, M. I., Pugatch, D., Cohn, S., Lescano, C., Royal, S., Murphy, J. R., Silver, B., & Schlenger, W. E. (2008). Condom use among high-risk adolescents: Anticipation of partner disapproval and less pleasure associated with not using condoms. Public Health Reports, 123, 601–607. https://doi.org/10.1177/003335490812300510
Choukas-Bradley, S., Goldberg, S. K., Widman, L., Reese, B. M., & Halpern, C. T. (2015). Demographic and developmental differences in the content and sequence of adolescents’ ideal romantic relationship behaviors. Journal of Adolescence, 45, 112–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.08.019
Dawson, L. H., Shih, M., de Moor, C., & Shrier, L. (2008). Reasons why adolescents and young adults have sex: Associations with psychological characteristics and sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 45(3), 225–323. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490801987457
Erlandsson, K., Nordvall, C. J., Öhman, A., & Häggstrom-Nordin, E. (2013). Qualitative interviews with adolescents about “friends-with-benefits” relationships. Public Health Nursing, 30(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.525-1446.2012.01040.x
Fortenberry, J. D. (2013a). The evolving sexual health paradigm: Transforming definitions into sexual health practices. AIDS, 27(suppl 1), s127–s133. https://doi.org/10.1097/qad.0000000000000048
Fortenberry, J. D. (2013b). Puberty and adolescent sexuality. Hormones and Behavior, 64(2), 280–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.03.007
Fortenberry, J. D., Schick, V., Herbenick, D., Sanders, S. A., Dodge, B., & Reece, M. (2010). Sexual behaviors and condom use at last vaginal intercourse: A national sample of adolescents ages 14 to 17 years. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(s5), 305–314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02018.x
Giordano, P. C., Manning, W. D., Longmore, M. A., & Flanigan, C. M. (2012). Developmental shifts in the character of romantic and sexual relationships from adolescence to young adulthood. In A. Booth, S. L. Brown, N. S. Landale, W. D. Manning, & S. M. McHale (Eds.), Early adulthood in a family context (pp. 133–164). Springer.
Harden, K. P. (2014). A sex-positive framework for research on adolescent sexuality. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(5), 455–469. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614535934
Hensel, D. J., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2013). A multidimensional model of sexual health and sexual and prevention behavior among adolescent women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52, 219–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.05.017
Hensel, D. J., Fortenberry, J. D., & Orr, D. P. (2008). Variations in coital and noncoital sexual repertoire among adolescent women. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(2), 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.07.009
Herbenick, D., Bowling, J., Fu, T.-C., Dodge, B., Guerra-Reyes, L., & Sanders, S. (2017). Sexual diversity in the United States: Results from a nationally representative probability sample of adolescent women and men. PLoS ONE, 12, e0181198. https://doi.org/10.1371/journalpone.0181198
Herbenick, D., Fu, T. C. J., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2019). The alcohol contexts of consent, wanted sex, sexual pleasure, and sexual assault: Results from a probability survey of undergraduate students. Journal of American College Health, 67(2), 144–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1462827
Herbenick, D., Reece, M., Schick, V., Sanders, S. A., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2010). An event-level analysis of the sexual characteristics and composition among adults ages 18 to 59: Results from a national probability sample in the United States. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 7(suppl 5), 346–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02020.x
Herbenick, D., Schick, V., Reece, M., Sanders, S. A., Smith, N., Dodge, B., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2013). Characteristics of condom and lubricant use among a nationally representative probability sample of adults ages 18 to 59 in the United States. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(2), 474–483. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12021
Heron, J., Low, N., Lewis, G., Macleod, J., Ness, A., & Waylen, A. (2015). Social factors associated with readiness or sexual activity in adolescents: A population-based cohort study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(3), 669–678. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0162-5
Impett, E. A., & Tolman, D. L. (2006). Late adolescent girls’ sexual experiences and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Adolescent Research, 21(6), 628–646. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558406293964
Ma, Y., Pittman, J. F., Kerpelman, J. L., & Adler-Baeder, F. (2014). Relationship education and classroom climate impact on adolescents’ standards for partners/relationships. Family Relations, 63(4), 453–468. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12084
Markham, C. M., Lormand, D., Gloppen, K. M., Peskin, M. F., Flores, B., Low, B., & House, L. D. (2010). Connectedness as a predictor of sexual and reproductive health outcomes for youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46, s23–s41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.11.214
Opperman, E., Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Rogers, C. (2014). “It feels so good it almost hurts”: Young adults’ experiences of orgasm and sexual pleasure. Journal of Sex Research, 51(5), 503–515. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.753982
Ott, M. A., Millstein, S. G., Ofner, S., & Halpern-Felsher, B. L. (2006). Greater expectations: Adolescents’ positive motivations for sex. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 38(2), 84–89. https://doi.org/10.1363/3808406
Peterson, Z. D., & Muehlenhard, C. L. (2007). Conceptualizing the “wantedness” of women’s consensual and nonconsensual sexual experiences: Implications for how women label their experiences with rape. Journal of Sex Research, 44(1), 72–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490709336794
Randolph, M. E., Pinkerton, S. D., Bogart, L. M., Cecil, H., & Abramson, P. R. (2007). Sexual pleasure and condom use. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(6), 844–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-007-9213-0
Rickert, V. I., Sanghvi, R., & Wiemann, C. M. (2002). Is lack of sexual assertiveness among adolescent and young adult women a cause for concern? Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 34(4), 178–183. https://doi.org/10.2307/3097727
Rosenberger, J. G., Herbenick, D., Novak, D. S., & Reece, M. (2013). What’s love got to do with it? Examinations of emotional perceptions and sexual behaviors among gay and bisexual men in the United States. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(1), 119–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-013-0223-9
Royer, H. R., Keller, M. L., & Heidrich, S. M. (2009). Young adolescents’ perceptions of romantic relationships and sexual activity. Sex Education, 9(4), 395–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681810903265329
Saliares, E., Wilkerson, J. M., Sieving, R. E., & Brady, S. S. (2017). Sexually experienced adolescents’ thoughts about sexual pleasure. Journal of Sex Research, 54(4–5), 604–618. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2016.1170101
Siegler, A. J., Boos, E., Rosenberg, E. S., Cecil, M. P., & Sullivan, P. S. (2018). Validation of an event-level, male sexual pleasure scale (EMSEXpleasure) among condom-using men in the U.S. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(6), 1745–1754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-017-1103-5
Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of opportunity: Lessons from the new science of adolescence. Mariner Books.
Tolman, D. L. (2002). Dilemmas of desire: Teenage girls talk about sexuality. Harvard University Press.
Tolman, D. L., & McClelland, S. I. (2011). Normative sexual development in adolescence: A decade in review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 242–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00726.x
Tolman, D. L., Striepe, M. I., & Harmon, T. (2003). Gender matters: Constructing a model of adolescent sexual health. Journal of Sex Research, 40(1), 4–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490309552
van de Bongardt, D., & de Graaf, H. (2020). Youth’s socio-sexual competences with romantic and casual sexual partners. Journal of Sex Research, 57(9), 1166–1179. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2020.1743226
Vasilenko, S. A., Lefkowitz, E. S., & Welsh, D. P. (2014). Is sexual behavior healthy for adolescents? A conceptual framework for research on adolescent sexual behavior and physical, mental, and social health. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 144, 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20057
Widman, L., Choukas-Bradley, S., Helms, S. W., Golin, C. E., & Prinstein, M. J. (2014). Sexual communication between early adolescents and their dating partners, parents, and best friends. Journal of Sex Research, 51(7), 731–741. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2013.843148
Acknowledgements
The 2015 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior was funded by Church & Dwight Co., Inc., and the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. Church & Dwight Co., Inc., is the maker of Trojan brand sexual health products.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
All study procedures which were involving human subjects were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All procedures were approved by the Indiana University Institutional Review Board.
Informed Consent
Parents consented for their adolescent children to participate in the NSSHB. All adolescents provided written assent to participant in the NSSHB.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beckmeyer, J.J., Herbenick, D., Fu, TC. et al. Pleasure During Adolescents’ Most Recent Partnered Sexual Experience: Findings from a U.S. Probability Survey. Arch Sex Behav 50, 2423–2434 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02026-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02026-4