| Summary: | This study explores the intrapersonal and interpersonal ecological factors that influence
adolescent females' perceptions of sex and the extent to which their perceptions of sex impact onset of
sexual intercourse as they mature. Particular attention is given to how depression influences individual,
personal and social factors in an adolescent female's life, to shape her attitudes towards sex, and
determine her engagement in sex as she reaches young adulthood. Ecological Systems Theory is used to
examine the extent to which individual, family, and social factors impact adolescent females'
perceptions of sex and onset of sexual intercourse.
Data are from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Multinomial logistic
regression reveals that the factors associated with less positive perceptions of sex are age, self-esteem,
sexual intercourse, religiosity and connection to mother and peers, as well as, depression in combination
with religiosity and connection to one's peers. More positive perceptions of sex are linked with
depression, connection to one's school, as well as, depression in conjunction with aging and sexual
intercourse. Results from the logistic regression analysis determines that less positive perceptions of sex
delay onset of sexual intercourse among adolescent females; however, adolescent females' attitudes
towards sex vary greatly in determining onset of sexual intercourse as they mature. Furthermore, there
is no association between depression and adolescent females' perceptions of sex in predicting onset of
sexual intercourse as they progress into young adulthood.
The findings from this study suggest that programs focused on shaping attitudes toward sex
should assist young women in forming a definite opinion about their decision to have sexual intercourse
or abstain from engagement in sexual intercourse. A female's age, sense of self-worth, emotional state,
and religiosity as well as the strength of her relationships with parents, peers and school must be
considered when addressing her sexual health. This investigation supports the use of Ecological
Systems Theory as a useful theoretical framework for examining the factors that influence adolescent
females' perceptions of sex and engagement in sexual intercourse. A more cognitive investigation of the
relationship between depression and the factors in an adolescent female's life that influence her
attitudes towards sex and how depression affects an adolescent female's perception of sex and her
decision to engage in sexual intercourse is warranted as this study finds only minor support for the use
of Ecological Systems Theory when exploring the association between depression and adolescent
female sexual health. === Graduation date: 2006
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