title: Experiencing sexuality in youth living in Greece: contraceptive practices, risk taking, and psychosocial status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess initiation of sexual activity and contraception methods used among Greek adolescents. To determine the association of adolescents' emotional and behavioral status with their sexual activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  The population (N = 1074, age 14-16) consisted of a random sample, stratified according to locality and population density, of 20 public junior high and high schools located in the urban district of Athens, Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous self-reported questionnaires were used to assess sexual activity choices and contraception methods. The Youth Self-Report questionnaire was used to evaluate the psychosocial competencies and difficulties of Greek adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses included frequencies with chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors that may influence sexual engagement of Greek adolescents were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the adolescents who completed the questionnaire 21.8% reported having experienced sexual intercourse. The male/female ratio was 3/1 (P < .001) and the mean age of sexual debut was 14.5 ± 0.9 years. Condoms were the most preferred contraceptive method (79.9%), followed by withdrawal (38.9%). Emergency contraception was used by 9.6% of participants. Adolescents with separated, divorced or with a deceased parent, and non-Greek nationality have higher possibility of being sexually active. Adolescents who reported sexual intercourse had significantly higher score of thought problems (β = 1.07, SE = 0.35, P = .002), attention difficulties (β = 0.67, SE = 0.29, P = .022), delinquent behavior problems (β = 2.37, SE = 0.34, P < .001), aggressive behavior (β = 1.97, SE = 0.48, P < .001), and externalizing problems (β = 4.18, SE = 0.78, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Engagement in sexual activities was significantly associated with psychosocial difficulties among adolescents living in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Health Unit, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: info@youth-health.gr.
authors.forename: Artemis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsitsika
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Health Unit, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrie
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthymios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deligeoroglou
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Health Unit, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzavara
authors.affiliation: Adolescent Health Unit, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greydanus
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papaevangelou
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Mariza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolia
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bakoula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003076:Coitus Interruptus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents; D012309:Risk-Taking; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex
keywords: Adolescents; Contraceptive methods; Prevalence; Sexual behavior; Youth Self-Report