title: Positive and negative perceived consequences of first intercourse among middle and high school students in Puebla, Mexico.
abstract: Relatively little is known about young people's interpretations of sexual behaviour in Latin America. In this study, we examine the most commonly perceived consequences of first sexual intercourse among Mexican middle and high school students, how perceived consequences differ by gender, and factors that may predict experiencing more positive or negative consequences. Sexually active Mexican students aged 12-19 years (n = 268) reported whether they had experienced each of 19 consequences following first intercourse. Both positive consequences, such as physical satisfaction and closeness to partner, and negative consequences, such as worry about STDs and pregnancy, were common. Sex with a non-relationship partner was associated with fewer positive and more negative consequences, with the effect for positive consequences being stronger for young women. Pressure to have sex was associated with fewer positive consequences of first intercourse, and pressure to remain a virgin was associated with more positive and negative consequences. These findings suggest that young people often report mixed feelings about their first sexual intercourse and that relationship context and sexual socialisation influence their perceptions of the event.
authors.affiliation: a Methodology Center , Pennsylvania State University , University Park , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vasilenko
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , University of North Carolina , Wilmington , CT , Waterbury , USA.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Hernández
authors.affiliation: c Department of Human Development and Family Studies , University of Connecticut , Waterbury , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Halgunseth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mexico; Sexual behaviour; consequences of sex; first intercourse; young people