What is the psychological harm done by underage sex?

[narrowgoose317]

I suspect the evidence would be hard to find if you want to isolate psychological factors.

There have been a number of studies done seemingly about how early sexual activity affects later outcomes, but there are so many variables I fail to see how any could be reliable.

There are two examples here, note that the second is from the US Heritage Foundation and is likely to have a family orientated right wing religious bias, the first appears contradictory.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/s...435&page=1

http://s3.amazonaws.com/thf_media/2003/p...charts.pdf

There really are multiple problems if want a model where social factors such as poverty, associated drug and alcohol misuse, and vulnerability to STDs and pregnancy are excluded, which all appear in studies on early sexual activity, not to mention the emotional quality of relationships, whether rejection is involved, even if the relationship is consensual it may be controlling if one of the partners is older (although of course this can happen in similar age relationships), etc.

So you’re asking whether a consensual relationship without any of the negative factors would cause psychological damage, pretty difficult to prove, but in my opinion if you want some guesses it could.

Firstly, I suppose I believe that sex is something for adults, not children, having a sexual relationship even if contraception is used implies in some way that the parties are sexually, physically and emotionally mature enough, and have acquired the social and economic position, to become parents by implication.

Secondly, even if the sexual relationship is not harmful in itself, might it take the focus off things that are more important to do at that age. Again possibly, yes, adolescence is a time when we should be able to develop our potential fully to take our place in society eventually as people able to find a meaningful (and preferably paid) occupation, the ability to form a meaningful loving relationship with someone at some point, and to find and enjoy some meaningful leisure pursuits, preferably to sustain through the inevitable ups and downs of life.

I’m not sure if early one-to-one relationships help with this, maybe mixing generally in peer groups, single sex or mixed, and getting on with education are more important, although they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

No real evidence but I have a gut feeling that early sexual relationships might be best avoided for the above reasons.