Consistency of Adolescent Self-Report of Age at First Engagement in Five Sexual Behaviors.
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| Title: | Consistency of Adolescent Self-Report of Age at First Engagement in Five Sexual Behaviors. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Bond, Julia C. (AUTHOR), Ybarra, Michele L. (AUTHOR), Ranker, Lynsie R. (AUTHOR), Nelson, Kimberly M. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Sex Research. Jul2026, Vol. 63 Issue 6, p1031-1038. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Longitudinal method, Acquisition of data, Sexual psychology, Human sexuality, Sexual health |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Self-report data are integral to sexuality research, yet their reliability is often questioned. We leveraged a cohort study of adolescents aged 13–17 years and living in the United States (recruited 2022–2023) to evaluate the consistency of self-reported sexual behavior initiation. Participants were surveyed at baseline, 4-, 9-, and 15-month follow-ups. Eligible participants completed at least two surveys (n = 1,300). At each timepoint, participants reported the age they first consensually engaged, if ever, in: penetration of the vagina or anus with fingers (digital penetration), oral sex, sex with a toy, penile-vaginal sex, and penile-anal sex. We assigned response patterns as consistent or inconsistent over follow-up. To evaluate whether reports more proximal to the age of initiation were more consistent, we evaluated the proportion of inconsistent responses stratified by whether first engagement was prior to versus during study follow-up. Consistency was high: 81–94%, depending on the type of sex. Nineteen percent of participants had inconsistent reports for digital penetration versus 15% for oral sex, 12% for penetration with toys, 9% for penile-vaginal sex, and 6% for penile-anal sex. Reports collected more proximal to initiation were more consistent. In a diverse cohort of adolescents, we report high consistency of self-report data. Initiating data collection prior to first sex may improve consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 194783156 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Consistency of Adolescent Self-Report of Age at First Engagement in Five Sexual Behaviors. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bond%2C+Julia+C%2E%22">Bond, Julia C.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ybarra%2C+Michele+L%2E%22">Ybarra, Michele L.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ranker%2C+Lynsie+R%2E%22">Ranker, Lynsie R.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nelson%2C+Kimberly+M%2E%22">Nelson, Kimberly M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Sex+Research%22">Journal of Sex Research</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 63 Issue 6, p1031-1038. 8p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acquisition+of+data%22">Acquisition of data</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+psychology%22">Sexual psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+sexuality%22">Human sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+health%22">Sexual health</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Self-report data are integral to sexuality research, yet their reliability is often questioned. We leveraged a cohort study of adolescents aged 13–17 years and living in the United States (recruited 2022–2023) to evaluate the consistency of self-reported sexual behavior initiation. Participants were surveyed at baseline, 4-, 9-, and 15-month follow-ups. Eligible participants completed at least two surveys (n = 1,300). At each timepoint, participants reported the age they first consensually engaged, if ever, in: penetration of the vagina or anus with fingers (digital penetration), oral sex, sex with a toy, penile-vaginal sex, and penile-anal sex. We assigned response patterns as consistent or inconsistent over follow-up. To evaluate whether reports more proximal to the age of initiation were more consistent, we evaluated the proportion of inconsistent responses stratified by whether first engagement was prior to versus during study follow-up. Consistency was high: 81–94%, depending on the type of sex. Nineteen percent of participants had inconsistent reports for digital penetration versus 15% for oral sex, 12% for penetration with toys, 9% for penile-vaginal sex, and 6% for penile-anal sex. Reports collected more proximal to initiation were more consistent. In a diverse cohort of adolescents, we report high consistency of self-report data. Initiating data collection prior to first sex may improve consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Sex Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194783156 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/00224499.2025.2577650 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1031 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method Type: general – SubjectFull: Acquisition of data Type: general – SubjectFull: Sexual psychology Type: general – SubjectFull: Human sexuality Type: general – SubjectFull: Sexual health Type: general – SubjectFull: United States Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Consistency of Adolescent Self-Report of Age at First Engagement in Five Sexual Behaviors. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bond, Julia C. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ybarra, Michele L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ranker, Lynsie R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nelson, Kimberly M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00224499 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 63 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Sex Research Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
