Exposing Adolescents to Sexual Conduct - Research Paper Example

Exposing Adolescents to Sexual Conduct Exposing adolescents to sexual conduct pose a serious problem to the parents and the society as a whole. Some of these challenges constitute both physical and emotional changes that come with sexually maturing bodies. Such challenges are mainly characterized by getting to understand how to control the desires and to cope with the new behaviors. During the adolescence stage of develop, response to drastic challenges is mainly influenced by social and cultural environments. In the United States adolescence are treated with extra care as compared to other countries). The adolescent stage is not only a normal health challenge, but also a troublesome stage of life. Despite several transitional changes that come with adolescence and sexuality, sex during this stage is linked to behaviors and conduct of teenagers who explore every aspect to fulfill the sexual desire. Therefore, the slightest exposure of adolescent to sexual conduct requires extreme caution so to deter chances of negativities that are mostly prompted during the adolescence period. This paper tries to ascertain the negativities that Adolescents encounter on the sexual desires. Engaging into sexual intercourse during adolescence is deemed to enhance the chances and risks of sexually transmitted diseases or teenage pregnancies. It has been pointed out that teenagers who initiate sexual intercourse at the age of 13 years are highly susceptible to have numerous lifetime sexual partners (Foa, Andrews & Annenberg, 2006. Moreover, there is more that teenagers would want to discover by having a sexual intercourse and believing that it is an absolute right to try new discoveries (Harris, 2011). However, early intercourse is part of the serious problems during the adolescence period. Moreover, it does not only affect the youths but is also a challenge to the parents and the family members (Foa, Andrews & Annenberg, 2006). Teenagers who are undergoing the adolescence period are said to exhibit truancy, aggression and characters that are most likely to indicate signs of behavioral deviance (Levesque, 2012).Most psychological scholars concerned with the study of human sexuality have confirmed that having a sexual intercourse at an early pose an individual risk such as early pregnancy and greater risk of sexually transmitted diseases confirms (Levesque, 2012. However, sexual initiation during an adolescence period is of a special risk with increased chances of pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases (Levesque, 2012). Levesque (2012), clarifies that, most studies have confirmed very minimal attention to other forms of sexual conducts especially to sexual intercourse experienced by youths 18 years or younger. In the United States school students aged 12 to 18 years is of sufficient evidence that a good number of the above age bracket have contributed to different sexual activities. Such engagements involved the contacts of the gonads like masturbation or oral sex. Regardless of the subject area of adolescence and sexuality, scientific research has relay much focus mainly on the primary objective. For instance, investigations have been mainly based on engaging into sexual intercourse at certain specific ages, the conducts of the adolescent youths and the effects of a teenager’s sexual related activities (Levesque, 2012). Children who are experiencing the adolescence stage tend to exhibit sexual activity characterized by the thought and discovery of facts and exploration of the sexual world. During the adolescence period, teenagers engage in different forms of sexual intercourse some of which are oral while others are visualized as flight of the imagination (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000). The following are some of the oral sexual intercourses that are exhibited by youths during the adolescence period. Masturbation has become a common phenomenon among adolescence children in the United States It appears that the above type of the behavior is highly linked to other types of behaviors such as improved expression for like-hood, engagement into a sexual intercourse and adoration to test the use of condoms (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000). Studies have confirmed that both adolescence boys and girls usually engaged in masturbation activity. However, boys tend to exhibit more of the above activity compared to the female counterparts. On a probable basis, children are more likely to bear sexual responses even during the earliest years. Despite presence of theorist who believes that sexual behaviors are inactive, sociologist have confirmed that sexual behavior such as masturbation can neither be determined or learned. However, it is adopted as an ongoing process that associates with cultural scripts. Moreover, masturbation gives teenagers an opportunity to discover sexuality more privately and secretly, otherwise termed as normative activity. Though masturbation is an activity not openly discussed by parents in the United States, it is a fact that has continued to be exhibited by youths. Moreover, it has been found that boys are doing it most than the female counterparts (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000). Daydreaming is also a common sexual behavior exhibited by youths between the age of 12 and 13 years. Even though it is not considered as a social behavior, it has remained a typical behavior during adolescence with almost 80% having experienced the feeling at some given point in life (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000. According to Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, (2000), it is further clarified that having a fantasy is a center of feeling and exhibition of imagination that is meant to create a concept of feeling and state of sexual satisfaction in the minds of adolescence children. Comparative studies have confirmed that youths who are adolescents should be taught how to deal with imagination and synthesis the emotions not to engage into unnecessary sexual intercourse. Ultimately, experiencing daydream among adolescence children contributes immensely during adolescence because it acts as an on the way to enable teenagers get an opportunity to experience sexual encounters (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000). During the adolescence period, most youths would engage in sexual negative behaviors just to equate themselves to a particular social group. Some reviews addresses that peer group influence gets enhanced while the adolescence period and majority of youths would easily engage in the behavioral adoption of sexual related characters simply to feel like part of the inclusion(Wolfe & Mash, 2005). Besides, peer influence gives an opportunity to the members to engage in sexual behavioral skills that are of negative influence under the agitation of peer pressure. Moreover, credible sources have pointed out that the majority of the adolescent are characterized by physical intimate. Even if social pressure does not drive youths to engage into a sexual intercourse, majority are likely to engage in a physical or genital contact (Santelli, McNeely & Resnick, 2000). Family influences According to Wolfe & Mash, (2005), different psychological researchers have confirmed that parental attitude also plays an important role through communication advice towards shaping up of an adolescence sexual behavior. For instance, harmonious relationship between a parent and a sibling is likely to convince an associate to postpone the engagement of an early sexual intercourse, avoid unwanted sexual misconduct or have very few sexual partners. Some studies only talk about teenage girls having been associated with extreme sexual misconduct, poor parental relationship also affect teenage boy who also engage in sexual behaviors. As such, it may pose serious risks if not properly controlled. Moreover, poor parental relationship concerning issues of adolescence and sexual activity may encourage influence among teenagers to adopt unexpected behaviors and association with friends who are of bad characters (Wolfe & Mash, 2005). Exposure to the media and sexual behavior There is much scientific evidence that explains the behavioral influence of adolescence youths to engage into sexual activities and connotations that are characterized with physical contacts of individual from the opposite gender. However, media have taken the lead in exposing early sexual initiation among teenagers. Furthermore, of programs running on our television sets contain sexual contents that instigate teenagers to embrace characters that are associated with sexual negativity. From a study conducted by a psychologist Peterson shows a positive link between teenagers’ engagement in television programs and earlier adoption of sexual intercourse among teenage boys and girls (Wolfe & Mash, 2005). Effective treatment plans and course for adolescence children Protective factors of adolescence child do not amount to the absence of risk factors, but they also constitute elements that are deemed critical to the resilience of the behavior during the adolescence period. From the exploration of different researchers, there are various related steps that both parents and the society can put into practice to help curb the escalation of negative sexual behavioral. (In Saleh et al. 2014). Some of the protective factors include By emphasizing a stronger relationship by parents, families, and schools and other institution that does not amount to part of the family, there is need for proper development and improvement of sexual education and education in the social context. Besides, there is need for such engagement in co-curriculum activities that helps in the development of friendships advocating against negative sexual (Saleh, 2014) According to Saleh et al (2014), a proper engagement between school and the family amount to the best protective strategy against various behavioral risks against adolescence. Study has been conducted to determine the role of parents and guardians in preventing negative sexual behaviors during the teenage period. Therefore, parental guidance provides a proper balance and the relevant autonomy towards shaping the characters of teenage girls and boys. It is the mandate of educational and non-educational institutions to offer coursework that sensitize teenage children against the risks associated with negative behavioral sexuality. Moreover, the strengths resilience and formality that a community plays in helping youths undergoing a transition process of sexuality is considered an important process. It drives away instinct of immortality while guiding the behavior through the transition into adulthood (Jaccard, Dittus & Gordon, 2008) Most teenagers grapple with various aspects of sexual identity. Therefore, should be bold views that are meant to internalize cultural images of sexuality as well as negative experiences that are characterized with love and adoration (Jaccard, Dittus & Gordon, 2008). About desire during the adolescence stage, necessity studies should be conducted to limit the general aspects of sexuality while providing more specific education concerning the importance moral sexual behavior. Ultimately, there should be cross-cultural concept of education that targets the resistance of a bounce back while improving adversity. Furthermore, resilience projects that analyze adversity of sexuality should be embraced to sensitize adolescence children within the society. Moreover, it helps in the understanding of issues of sexuality as a normal transition process in life and should not be used as a cover-up of behavioral sexual negativities (SIEDC, 2014). Effects of Exposing Adolescents to sexual conduct Jaccard, Dittus & Gordon, (2008), explains that before the propounding knowledge is brought to the limelight, there is already a literacy of sex among boys and girls. Moreover, the acquisition of a sexual vocabulary start with proper naming of genitalia, understanding of physical, sexual contacts and matters of sexuality. However, such knowledge characterized by biological development process is coupled by various negative and positive effects some of which include the following. Media influence The adoption of media by young people transforms the attitudes and behaviors concerning sex and sexual behavior. Credible sources have confirmed that the influence of media among adolescence children leads to an early sexual activity thus increasing the susceptibility of teenage pregnancy of the girl child. It has been pointed out frequent consumption of media with extreme content of irresponsible sexual conduct increases the susceptibility for irresponsible conduct and casual influence of teenage sexual behavior. Moreover, when a teenager is consistently exposed to sexual content for a period, they would tend to interpret the sexual intercourse and adopt uncalled for behavioral attitudes. As such, media has been used as a tool that promotes negative sexual; behavior among youths within the society (SIEDC, 2014). Inadequate School-based sex education Studies carried out by SIEDC (2014), have pointed out that early sex-based education encourages school children to adopt an unsought of puberty. Therefore, it is advisable that sexual studies should be endorsed as part of the curriculum because it enables it enables teenagers to be both physically and biologically prepared to embrace changes in behavior and issues of sexuality. However, inadequate sexual education at an early enhances teenage susceptibility to embrace negative sexual behaviors and ends up getting exploited in the long run. School-based sex education between children and teachers is considered one of the best ways of enhancing the knowledge of the youths in relation to the attitudes and behaviors. Moreover, it is advisable widespread engagement of formal education must embrace sex education and that focus on reducing specific risk behaviors. Improper sexual education is more likely to deter adolescence children from getting the right sexual information thus enhances risks associated with sexual activities (SIEDC, 2014). Lack of sexual communication enhances negative results Most of the sexual studies conducted have given enough evidence how teenagers who do not get enough information of sexual activities are more likely to show signs of emotional distress and low self esteemed. Besides, absence of sexual education among teenagers increases chances of engagement into negative behavioral activities such as the use of drugs among the boys and sexual risk behaviors among girl child (Dittu & Jaccard, 2000). Studies conducted among black Americans indicate that very few mother willing talk to their daughters concerning issues of sexuality and adolescence. As such, girls become more reluctant to discuss issues of biological transformation and negative impacts of sexual activities during the puberty stage. Moreover, it has been indicated that black Americans associate maternal communication to immorality. As such, they restrict the teenage girls from discussing issues of romantic relationships. Ultimately, the study also found that black American mother are less likely to discuss issues of sexually most especially to teenage girls whom they consider too young to handle issues of sexuality. However, it is normal for such members of the society to report sexual status of the teenage girls who is on the contrary to African social life (Dittu & Jaccard, 2000). Methodology applicable in sexual education Most people who are engaged in sex education tend to believe in the sense of sexuality and may not want to bring any form of negative influence in sexual education (Beauchaine & Hinshaw, 2013). As such, it is important to away with the influence of sexual negativity. In essence, the belief that young girls should consider abstinence may not amount to any positivity among adolescence children unless sufficient effort is taken to sensitize the youth against having sex during the teenage period (Beauchaine & Hinshaw, 2013). Consequently, any attempt to impose moral views or positive sex education also provides an opportunity for exploration of sexuality and certain behaviors that come with the puberty stage. Parental risk concerning the behavior change and sexuality during the teenage period requires emotion respect and dignity among young people during the exhibition of behavioral change and sexuality by teenage boys and girls (Moffitt, 2001). Conclusion Issues of adolescence and sexuality mainly concern the behavior change characterized by negative impacts such as teenage pregnancy during the adolescence period. It has been pointed out that such facts are only meant to enhance the understanding of the psychological understanding of behavior adoption and coupled with sexual transition between the age of 12 and 18 years. The paper has moved the study of adolescence and sexuality beyond simple identity and has embraced both physical and biological factors. Ultimately, the study has also identified different engagements of sexual behaviors during the adolescence period including masturbation and physical contact of the genitalia. There should be observational learning that aims to encourage young children to sort out facts of sexuality. Most of all youths should be consistently engaged in strengths a behavioral approach that works with children, young people and the families to find solutions to challenges associated with adolescence. References: Beauchaine, T. P., & Hinshaw, S. P. (2013). Child and adolescent psychopathology. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons. Dittus. P & Jaccard, J. (2000). The relationship of adolescent perceptions of maternal disapproval of sex and of the mother-adolescent relationship to sexual outcomes. Manuscript, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Albany, NY. Foa, E. B., Andrews, L. W & Annenberg Public Policy Center. (2006). 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