The relationship between knowledge and social support with sexual behavior in adolescents

Abstract

Adolescents often undergo a tumultuous phase of sexual maturation, leading to increased dating activity due to a lack of adequate knowledge and support. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between knowledge, social support, and sexual behavior among adolescents. The research adopted a cross-sectional design with 100 respondents from Manukan Kulon. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. Knowledge and social support served as independent variables, assessed through questionnaires, while sexual behavior was the dependent variable, evaluated with a separate questionnaire. Ordinal data analysis, specifically the Spearman Rho test (ρ<0.05), was employed. Results indicated that 57% of adolescents in Manukan Kulon had low knowledge, 46% lacked social support, and 60% engaged in unsafe sexual behavior. The Spearman Rho test revealed significant relationships between knowledge and sexual behavior (ρ = 0.000) and between social support and sexual behavior (ρ = 0.000). In conclusion, improved knowledge can lead to safer sexual behavior among adolescents, while strong social support, particularly from parents and teachers, plays a vital role in providing information and promoting safe sexual behavior.