Teen Attitudes Toward Sex

A new poll shows that the majority of teens regret having sex.

Almost two-thirds of teenagers who have had sexual intercourse wish they'd waited, according to a poll released by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Fifty-five percent of boys and 72 percent of girls said they wish they had waited longer to have sex.

"This poll is just the latest evidence that many teens are taking a more cautious attitude toward having sex," Sally Sachar, deputy director of the campaign, said.

Teens cited the following influences as being most influential in their decisions about sex:

• 37 percent of teens cited their parents
  
• 30 percent cited friends
  
• 11 percent naming the media
  
• 11 percent identifying their religious communities

Teens get their information about sex from a variety of sources:

• 61 percent from the media
  
• 57 percent learned from their friends
  
• 55 percent learned from their parents

In addition, while 78 percent agreed that teens should not be sexually active, 54 percent say that those teens who are sexually active should have access to birth control. Nearly 25 percent disagreed, saying that teens should be abstinent and not have access to birth control. (Not Just Another Thing to Do. [Survey from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy], released June 30, 2000).

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National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

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