Gender differences in sexuality and life quality among young people visiting a Swedish youth clinic.
A survey was performed in the spring of 2004 to investigate aspects of life quality and sexuality in young girls and boys visiting a youth clinic in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden.


METHODS
Girls and boys coming for treatment, as well as accompanying persons, were over a period of three months asked to complete a questionnaire covering physical, mental, and social matters, including sexuality and lifestyle.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was answered by 480 girls and 108 boys. The response rate was 87%. The mean age of the girls was 18.7 +/- 2.1 years and of the boys 19.8 +/- 2.9 years. Significantly more girls than boys felt depressed, suffered stress, and had physical pain. More girls than boys were dissatisfied with their bodies and consciously tried to control their weight. Girls had been forced to have sex to a higher degree than boys. Boys, more than girls, appreciated casual sex, enjoyed masturbating and watching pornography and had an orgasm during intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that girls were less satisfied than boys with life, their bodies, and sexuality. Weight-control behavior was notably common among teenage girls and could indicate eating disorder problems. These gender differences should be taken into account for the adequate care and treatment of young people and important when designing youth-friendly clinics and the help they can provide.
Wiksten-Almströmer
Marianne
M
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. marianne.wiksten@utbildning.stockholm.se
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D019529:Sexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult