Age Differences Between Sexual Partners in the United States

Abstract

Although the proportion of 15-17-year-old women who have a much older partner is small, these adolescents are of concern because of their low rate of contraceptive use and their relatively high rates of pregnancy and birth. Research is needed to determine why some young women have relationships with an older man, and how their partner's characteristics affect their reproductive behavior.

Predicting Unprotected Sex and Unplanned Pregnancy among Urban African-American Adolescent Girls Using the Theory of Gender and Power

“…This research concurs with past research that adolescents with older boyfriends are more likely to have unplanned pregnancy, 13,14 which is also predicted by the Theory of Gender and Power. This research also concurs with past research that adolescents in physically or emotionally abusive relationships are more likely to have unprotected sex, 5,7 which is also predicted by theory.…”

“…12 Few studies have identified comparable sources of reproductive coercion in the United States among adolescents. 11 Adolescents under 18 with older partners are more likely to become pregnant 13,14 and to acquire a sexually transmitted infection 15 than adolescents with similar age boyfriends. Romantic partners' economic power appears to moderate the decision to have safe sex: high-income men who are motivated to have safe sex are more likely to have safe sex than low-income men.…”

Adolescent dating experiences described by Latino college students

“…It may be that the combination of delayed dating onset and involvement with older partners puts some Latinas at a disadvantage as they enter a serious romantic relationship, offering clues as to why MexicanAmerican girls who have been pregnant can still be "remarkably inexperienced in relationships with males" (de Anda et al, 1990, p. 312). In nationally representative samples, involvement with older partners has been linked to early onset of sexual activity (Marín et al, 2000), ambivalence about sexual initiation (Abma, Driscoll, & Moore, 1998) and an increased likelihood of teen pregnancy (Darroch, Landry, & Oslak, 1999). The role of early dating experiences in magnifying Latina teens' risk of teenage pregnancy deserves further attention.…”

Adolescent Sexuality: Behavior and Meaning

“…Past research has shown the importance of relationship characteristics in infl uencing contraceptive use at fi rst intercourse (Manning, Longmore, & Giordano, 2000); for example, female NSFG respondents younger than 18 whose partners were six or more years older were less likely to report contraceptive use at last intercourse than young women whose partners were within two years of their age; they were also more likely to become pregnant and bear a child (Darroch, Landry, & Oslak, 1999). Future research should examine the role of partners more fully.…”