title: Influence of family structure on sexual behavior of Turkish female adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the link between romantic relationship and/or sexual activity of adolescents, and family structure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of 1087 adolescent girls were evaluated for age, statute (student, working, out-of-school), incidence of romantic relationship and sexual activity, and family structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teenager students had significantly less romantic relationships and experience of sexual intercourse than other groups. Parent-adolescent communication was negatively correlated with absence of romantic relationship and sexual intercourse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents who have left school and are working constitute a population having higher romantic relationships and sexual intercourse experiences compared with the student adolescents. Good relationships with parents were associated with less risky sexual behavior. Close relationships with school delay the onset of sexual activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ministry of Health, Ankara Etlik Zübeyde Hanim Women's Health Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. yytasci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.forename: Berfu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Muberra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocak
authors.forename: Fedi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Göktolga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey