Leisure Boredom, Timing of Sexual Debut, and Co-Occurring Behaviors among South African Adolescents

Abstract

Sex during adolescence is normative; however, there are substantial individual differences in the timing and context of sexual debut. Leisure boredom is an underexplored correlate of sexual behavior that is associated with many adolescent health outcomes. We investigated if and how individual differences in leisure boredom may be associated with timing of sexual debut, and whether individuals engage in safe or risky behaviors at debut. Survival analysis, logistic regression, and Poisson regression were applied to eight-wave longitudinal data obtained from 3,088 South African adolescents (baseline M age = 13.9 years) to examine associations between leisure boredom and cumulative hazard of sexual debut across adolescence, odds of co-occurring sexual behaviors, and incidence rate of co-occurring sexual risk behaviors at debut. Higher levels of leisure boredom were associated with elevated hazard cumulatively across adolescence. Higher levels of leisure boredom were also associated with lower odds of safe sex and higher odds of substance use during sex and transactional sex at sexual debut, but not casual sex or condom non-use at sexual debut. Although odds of singular risk behaviors were lower for girls than for boys, the association between leisure boredom and the number of risk behaviors at sexual debut was stronger for girls than boys. Higher trait leisure boredom was associated with elevated hazard of sexual debut, greater likelihood that risky behaviors accompanied sexual debut, and greater number of co-occurring risky behaviors at sexual debut. Results support leisure boredom as a potential target for preventing sexual risk behavior among South African adolescents.

Prevalence and Trends of Sexual Behaviors Among Young Adolescents Aged 12 Years to 15 Years in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Population-Based Study

“…Although sexual behaviors are widely considered a normative and physiological component of adolescent development, risky sexual behaviors including early initiation of sexual intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, and condom nonuse remain significant public health challenges among adolescents due to their potentially deleterious effects on later sexual and reproductive health [ 1 ]. Sexual debut is not deterministic of later sexual activities and risks, but sexual intercourse initiated at an earlier than normative age (typically defined as 15 years or younger) exposes adolescents, particularly adolescent girls, to a variety of risks such as HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [ 2 , 3 ]. Girls who initiate sexual intercourse early were found to be at higher risk of reporting unintended pregnancies and STIs than those who delay intercourse until late adolescence [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Adolescent sexual risk behaviors and participation in structured leisure activities (SLA): Role of socio-demographic characteristics and school-related behaviors

“…12 Although sexual intercourse in adolescence is normative, it is important to understand the timing of the first sexual activity and the risk behaviors associated with it, because young people's sexual behavior can have short-and long-term consequences that can be both positive and negative. [13][14][15][16][17] Adolescents and young adults are often involved in sexual risk behaviors (early sexual initiation, unprotected sex, sex with casual partners, promiscuity, etc.) that can lead to unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), suicides, abortions, and school and work dropouts.…”