Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sexual activities and preferences in a United Kingdom sample of 16 to 20-year-olds

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Data are reported on the sexual behavior of a random sample of 2171 youth, 16–20 years old, in two locations in the U.K. Lower bound prevalence estimates for a range of specific sex acts are presented with discussion of the likely biases in the data. Given concerns about the spread of HIV through the heterosexual population, emphasis is given to the nontrivial estimates of a number of potential transmission risk behaviors, in particular, heterosexual anal penetration. Data are also presented suggesting that experience with particular sexual acts is associated with maintenance of a desire to do these acts in the future. The implications of these findings for health education policy are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, D., Abraham, S. C. S., Spears, R., and Marks, D. (1990). AIDS invulnerability: Relationships, sexual behaviour and attitudes among 16–19 years olds. In Aggleton, P., Davies, P., and Hart, G. (eds.),AIDS: Individual, Cultural and Policy Dimensions. Falmer Press, Brighton, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abramson, P. R. (1988). Sexual assessment and the epidemiology of AIDS.J. Sex Res. 25: 323–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, M. Bates, I., Breakwell, G. M., Bynner, J. Emler, N., Jamieson, L., and Roberts, K. (1992).Careers and Identity Milton Keynes; Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, M. H., and Joseph, J. G. (1988). AIDS and behavioural change to avoid risk: A review.Am. J. Public. Health 78: 384–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, D. J. (1972). Self-perception theory. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 6, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloor, M. J., Barnard, M. A., and McKeganey, N. P. (1989). HIV related risk practices among Glasgow rent boys and their clients: Results of pilot work.AIDS News Supplement Weekly Report CD(S)U 89/50.

  • Boulton, M., Schramm Evans, Z., Fitzpatrick, R., and Hart, G. (1991). Bisexual men: Women, safer sex and HIV transmission. In Davies, P. (ed.),Proceedings of the 4th Social Aspects of AIDS Conference Falmer Press, Brighton, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowie, C., and Ford, N. (1989). Sexual behaviour of young people and the risk of HIV infection.J. Epidemiol. Commun. Health 43: 61–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, J. P., and Levitt, E. E. (1965). The scalability of sexual experiences.Psychol. Record. 15: 275–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breakwell, G. M. (1990).Interviewing British Psychological Society/Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks-Gunn, J., and Furstenberg, F. F. Jr. (1989). Adolescent sexual behavior.Am. Psychol. 44: 249–257.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D'Argy Smith, M., and Shattock, R. (1990). The Cosmo woman's sex life now!Cosmopolitan, December.

  • Department of Health. (1991).Press Release—Latest AIDS Figures (H91/123) Dept. of Health, Whitehall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiClemente, R. J., Boyer, C. B., and Mills, S. (1987). Prevention of AIDS among adolescents: Strategies for the development of comprehensive risk-reduction health education programs.Health Ed. Res. 2: 287–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer, P. H. (1982). Sexuality during adolescence. In Walman, B. J. (ed.),Handbook of Developmental Psychol Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuRant, R. H., and Sanders, J. M. (1989). Sexual behavior and contraceptive risk taking among sexually active adolescent females.J. Adolescent Health Care 10: 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, B. A., McCormick, S. M., Bond, R. D., MacRae, K. D., and Thorn, A. (1988). Human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis B virus infection and sexual behaviour of women attending a genito medicine clinic.Br. Med. J. 296: 473–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrel, C. (1978).My Mother Said ⋯ The Way Young People Learned About Sex and Birth Control, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, P., and MacCulloch, M. (1980).Human Sexual Behavior Wiley Chichester, U.K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fife-Schaw, C. R. and Breakwell, G. M., (in press). Estimating sexual behavior parameters in the light of AIDS.: A review of recent U.K. studies of young people. AIDS Care.

  • Fitzpatrick, R., Boulton, M., Hart, G., Dawson, J., and McLean, J. (1989). Heterosexual behavior in a sample of homosexually active men.Genitourinary Med. 65: 259–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, N., and Bowie, C. (1989). Urban-rural variations in the level of heterosexual activity of young people.AREA 21(3): 237–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forste, R. T., and Heaton, T. B. (1988). Initiation of sexual activity among female adolescents.Youth Soc. 19: 250–268.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hingson, R. W., Struin, L., Berlin, B. M., and Heeren, T. (1990). Beliefs about AIDS, use of alcohol and drugs and unprotected sex among Massachusetts adolescents.Am. J. Public Health 80: 295–299.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hite, S. (1976).The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality Dell, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hite, S. (1981).The Hite Report on Male Sexuality MacDonald Futura, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishii-Kuntz, M. (1988). AIDS and sexual behaviour changes in a college student sample.Soc. Sci. Res. 73: 13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A. M., Wadsworth, J., Elliot, P., Prior, S., Wallace, P., Blower, S., Webb, N. L., Heald, G. I., Miller, P. L., Adler, M., and Anderson, R. (1989). A pilot study of sexual lifestyle in a random sample of the population of Great Britain.AIDS 3: 135–141.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klee, H. (1990). Some observations of the sexual behavior of injecting drug users: Some implications for the spread of HIV infection. In Aggleton, P., Davies, P., and Hart, G. (eds.),AIDS: Individual, Cultural and Policy Dimensions Falmer Press, Brighton, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, R. J., and Levin, A. (1975). The Redbook Report: A study of female sexuality.Redbook, September.

  • Markova, I., Wilkie, P. A., Naji, S. A., and Forbes, C. D. (1990). Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and behavioural change of people with haemophilia.Psychol. Health 4: 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • McQueen, D. V., Currie, C., Smith, R., and Hopton, J. (1987). Telephone monitoring of AIDS-related behavior in the general population. International Conference on Telephone Survey Methodology, North Carolina, November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moatti, J. P., Dab, W., Abenhaim, L., and Bastide, S. (1989). Modifications of sexual behavior related to AIDS: A survey in Paris region.Health Policy 11: 227–231.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, D. (1985). Adolescent contraceptive behaviour: A review.Psychol. Bull. 98: 538–568.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nurius, P. S., and Hudson, W. P. (1988). Sexual activity and preference: 6 quantifiable dimensions.J. Sex Res. 24: 30–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reader, E. G., Carter, R., and Crawford, A. (1988). AIDS: Knowledge attitudes and behaviour. A study of university students.Health Educ. J. 47(4): 125–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W. (1988). Prevalence of risk-factors for AIDS infection in the Australian population.Med. J. Australia 149: 362–365.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. W. (1989). Possible explanation of variation in admission of homosexual contact in population surveys. AIDS 3(10): 670.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schofield, M. (1965).The Sexual Behaviour of Young People Longmans, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. A., and Udry, J. R. (1985). Coital and noncoital sexual behaviors of white and black adolescents.Am. J. Public Health 75: 1200–1203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G. (1978). Sex education and premarital sexual behavior among American college students.Adolescence 13(52): 659–674.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Struin, L., and Hingson, R. (1987). Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and adolescents: Knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behavior.Pediatrics 79: 825–828.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundet, J. N., Magnus, P., Kvalem, I. L., Gronnesby, J. K., and Bakketeig, L. S. (1989). Number of sexual partners and use of condoms in the heterosexual population of Norway — Relevance to HIV infection.Health Policy 13: 159–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, A., and Camburn, D. (1989). Religious participation and adolescent sexual behavior and attitudes.J. Marr. Fam. 51: 641–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wight, D. (1990).The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Young People's Heterosexual Behaviour in Britain, Working Paper No. 20, MRC Medical Sociology Unit, Glasgow, Scotland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelnik, M., and Kantner, J. F. (1980). Sexual activity, contraceptive use and pregnancy among Metropolitan-area teenagers: 1971–1979.Fam. Plann. Perspect. 12(5): 230–237.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, GU2 5XH, Guildford, Surrey, England

    Glynis M. Breakwell Ph.D. & Chris Fife-Schaw Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Glynis M. Breakwell Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chris Fife-Schaw Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

We thank the Economic and Social Research Council of Great Britain for funding this research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Breakwell, G.M., Fife-Schaw, C. Sexual activities and preferences in a United Kingdom sample of 16 to 20-year-olds. Arch Sex Behav 21, 271–293 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542997

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01542997

Key words

Search

Navigation