Article
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

Lo studio intende valutare a livello esplorativo il programma di educazione affettivo-sessuale Teen STAR che ha l’obiettivo di promuovere la conoscenza del corpo, le dimensioni affettivo-relazionali ad esso connesse, il senso di responsabilità e l’autonomia di scelta nei contesti affettivi e sessuali. Sono stati valutati due corsi, seguiti da 34 adolescenti. È stata analizzata la percezione di cambiamento dopo la partecipazione al corso circa il livello di conoscenza sul tema della sessualità, l’apertura comunicativa con i genitori, le fonti di informazione circa la sessualità, l’autostima, la capacità di resistere alla pressione dei pari e la soddisfazione per il corso. Il programma favorisce una maggiore conoscenza del tema, un’immagine di sé più positiva e una migliore capacità di resistere alla pressione dei pari. Il livello di soddisfazione per il corso risulta medio-alto. The purpose of this study is to evaluate, on an exploratory basis, the Teen STAR program for sex education which is aimed at promoting a greater awareness of one’s body, affective and relational dimensions, and to favor responsible and autonomous decisions. Two courses attended by 34 adolescents were evaluated. The study explored perception of change after the participation in the courses with regard to level of knowledge of sexuality-related themes, communication openness with parents, information sources about sexuality, self-esteem, ability to resist peer pressure, and satisfaction for the course. The participation in the program favored an increased knowledge on sexuality, a more positive self-image and a better ability to resist peer pressure to adopt risky behaviors. Finally, participants reported a medium-high level of satisfaction for the course.

No full-text available

Request Full-text Paper PDF

To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Article
Il presente contributo propone i risultati di uno studio esplorativo circa le conoscenze, le fonti di informazioni e i comportamenti degli adolescenti in tema di affettività e sessualità, considerando le esperienze a rischio compiute sia nella vita reale che virtuale. I partecipanti sono 1522 adolescenti di nazionalità italiana, tra i 12 e i 18 anni d'età (44% maschi e 56% femmine), a cui è stato somministrato un questionario on-line. I risultati hanno messo in evidenza che, diversamente dalla loro percezione, la conoscenza dei ragazzi circa i temi in oggetto è molto scarsa; i loro interlocutori privilegiati sono i genitori, gli amici e, in percentuale rilevante, internet. Altrettanto significativa la percentuale di ragazzi sessualmente attivi che mettono in atto condotte a rischio, specialmente tra i più piccoli (12-14 anni), così come la percentuale di chi riceve o invia in internet proprie foto provocanti e a sua volta riceve richieste di fornire materiale personale, specialmente tra le femmine.
Article
Full-text available
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include a large group of widespread infectious diseases, which may cause acute symptoms, chronic infections and severe long term complications.The control and prevention of these infections are public health priorities for several reasons: • the large number of people that acquire an STI per year; • the major proportion of asymptomatic infected individuals; • the high circulation in patients with sexual risk behavior (young adults, pluripartner, men who have sex with men, foreigners, commercial sex workers); • increased biological susceptibility of some subjects, such as young adults (immature genital tissues and more receptive to pathogens), women (genital apparatus more complex and extended in which pathogens are more likely to settle), or individuals carrying states of severe immunodeficiency; • the serious complications in the event of failure or incorrect diagnosis and treatment (chronic disease, infertility, oncogenic transformation, synergy with HIV infection); • the possibility of preventing and treating many of these infections. Therefore, recent guidelines from international agencies have recommended countries from the European Union to improve epidemiological STI surveillance systems in order to standardize data collection to facilitate their comparability between different geographical areas and to improve the information flow for faster tracking of the impact; furthermore, to extend surveillance to widespread, but often asymptomatic, disease (e.g. Chlamydia trachomatis), to conduct behavioural surveillance in patients with STIs, to increase public awareness of the role of STIs in the transmission/acquisition of HIV, and to increase the commitment of institutions in the prevention and control of STIs.
Article
Full-text available
El Programa Teen STAR da una nueva mirada hacia la educacion en afectividad y sexualidad, la cual supera la dicotomia actual entre los programas que promueven una mera solucion tecnica y aquellos que proponen un enfoque autoritario. Teen STAR se plantea desde la experiencia de la realidad personal y quiere ayudar al joven a descubrir su identidad y vocacion en la vida. Para esto utiliza una pedagogia inductiva, basada en el autodescubrimiento a traves de experiencias personales. Su propuesta se caracteriza por una antropologia personalista reflexiva y, ademas, por una presencia activa de los monitores en el aula o en el lugar donde sea desarrollado, junto con entrevistas personales y reuniones con los padres o apoderados. El presente trabajo analiza los resultados obtenidos al implementar el Programa Teen STAR en adolescentes chilenos entre 12 y 18 anos. Entre las adolescentes que participaron en el programa solo un 3,4% inicio su actividad sexual, en comparacion con un 12,4% de las adolescentes en el grupo control, que no participaron en Teen STAR. Entre los varones que participaron en el programa solo un 8,8% inicio su actividad sexual, comparado con un 17,6% de los varones del grupo control. Entre los jovenes pertenecientes al programa que estaban sexualmente activos, un 20,5% interrumpio su actividad sexual, en comparacion a un 9% en el grupo control. Entre los jovenes del programa que interrumpieron su actividad sexual, ninguno reanudo la actividad despues de un ano, mientras que un 11,7% de los jovenes control si la reanudo. Ademas, se estudiaron las tasas de embarazo de las jovenes que participaron en Teen STAR versus las jovenes que no lo hicieron (i.e., grupo control). Las tasas de embarazo promedio por ano fueron 0,87% en el grupo Teen STAR y 4,87% en el grupo control durante el periodo de seguimiento.
Article
Full-text available
An earlier randomized controlled trial found that two middle school sexual education programs-a risk avoidance (RA) program and a risk reduction (RR) program-delayed initiation of sexual intercourse (oral, vaginal, or anal sex) and reduced other sexual risk behaviors in ninth grade. We examined whether these effects extended into 10th grade. Fifteen middle schools were randomly assigned to RA, RR, or control conditions. Follow-up surveys were conducted with participating students in 10th grade (n = 1,187; 29.2% attrition). Participants were 60% female, 50% Hispanic, and 39% black; seventh grade mean age was 12.6 years. In 10th grade, compared with the control condition, both programs significantly delayed anal sex initiation in the total sample (RA: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], .64, 95% confidence interval [CI], .42-.99; RR: AOR, .65, 95% CI, .50-.84) and among Hispanics (RA: AOR, .53, 95% CI, .31-.91; RR: AOR, .82, 95% CI, .74-.93). Risk avoidance students were less likely to report unprotected vaginal sex, either by using a condom or by abstaining from sex (AOR: .61, 95% CI, .45-.85); RR students were less likely to report recent unprotected anal sex (AOR: .34, 95% CI, .20-.56). Both programs sustained positive impact on some psychosocial outcomes. Although both programs delayed anal sex initiation into 10th grade, effects on the delayed initiation of oral and vaginal sex were not sustained. Additional high school sexual education may help to further delay sexual initiation and reduce other sexual risk behaviors in later high school years.
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention (SS-SSTP) Middle School Program on reducing youth violence including peer aggression, peer victimization, homophobic name calling, and sexual violence perpetration and victimization among middle school sixth-grade students. Methods: The study design was a nested cohort (sixth graders) longitudinal study. We randomly assigned 18 matched pairs of 36 middle schools to the SS-SSTP or control condition. Teachers implemented 15 weekly lessons of the sixth-grade curriculum that focused on social emotional learning skills, including empathy, communication, bully prevention, and problem-solving skills. All sixth graders (n = 3,616) in intervention and control conditions completed self-report measures assessing verbal/relational bullying, physical aggression, homophobic name calling, and sexual violence victimization and perpetration before and after the implementation of the sixth-grade curriculum. Results: Multilevel analyses revealed significant intervention effects with regard to physical aggression. The adjusted odds ratio indicated that the intervention effect was substantial; individuals in intervention schools were 42% less likely to self-report physical aggression than students in control schools. We found no significant intervention effects for verbal/relational bully perpetration, peer victimization, homophobic teasing, and sexual violence. Conclusions: Within a 1-year period, we noted significant reductions in self-reported physical aggression in the intervention schools. Results suggest that SS-SSTP holds promise as an efficacious prevention program to reduce physical aggression in adolescent youth.
Article
Full-text available
Investigated a multidimensional, developmental–ecological framework for assessing the self-esteem of 1,800 early adolescents (5th–8th graders) using a new measure, the Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ). In addition to global feelings of self-worth, the SEQ assesses evaluations of the self relating to each primary context of early adolescent development (peers, school, and family) and 2 additional salient domains of experience for this age group (sports/athletics and body image). Results provide support for the proposed developmental–ecological framework as well as the reliability and validity of the SEQ. Major findings include factorial validity for the targeted dimensions of self-esteem and convergent and discriminant validity across self-report, interview, and parent-report forms of the instrument. Ratings for specific dimensions of self-esteem also exhibited differentially strong associations with measures of contextual experiences in corresponding areas. Implications for the relation between self-esteem and the ecology of early adolescent development are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Article
Full-text available
Investigators have identified a number of factors that increase the risk for experiencing sexual coercion, but as yet little is known about how sexual coercion in turn affects these risk factors. Using a sample of 110 adolescents, the current study examined the hypothesis that, after an incident of sexual coercion, adolescents would exhibit increases in several behaviors known to increase risk for victimization. As predicted, after experiencing sexual coercion, adolescents reported increased externalizing symptoms, more frequent sexual intercourse and a greater total number of intercourse partners. Finally, alcohol use, drug use, and problems related to substance use increased. These findings suggest the presence of a feedback loop, in which the experience of sexual coercion leads to an intensification of the factors that initially contributed risk for coercion.
Article
Full-text available
Priority health-risk behaviors, which are behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults, often are established during childhood and adolescence, extend into adulthood, and are interrelated and preventable. September 2008- December 2009. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults: 1) behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; 2) tobacco use; 3) alcohol and other drug use; 4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; 5) unhealthy dietary behaviors; and 6) physical inactivity. In addition, YRBSS monitors the prevalence of obesity and asthma. YRBSS includes a national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted by CDC and state and local school-based YRBSs conducted by state and local education and health agencies. This report summarizes results from the 2009 national survey, 42 state surveys, and 20 local surveys conducted among students in grades 9-12. Results from the 2009 national YRBS indicated that many high school students are engaged in behaviors that increase their likelihood for the leading causes of death among persons aged 10-24 years in the United States. Among high school students nationwide, 9.7% rarely or never wore a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else. During the 30 days before the survey, 28.3% of high school students rode in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol, 17.5% had carried a weapon, 41.8% had drunk alcohol, and 20.8% had used marijuana. During the 12 months before the survey, 31.5% of high school students had been in a physical fight and 6.3% had attempted suicide. Substantial morbidity and social problems among youth also result from unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV infection. Among high school students nationwide, 34.2% were currently sexually active, 38.9% of currently sexually active students had not used a condom during their last sexual intercourse, and 2.1% of students had ever injected an illegal drug. Results from the 2009 YRBS also indicated that many high school students are engaged in behaviors associated with the leading causes of death among adults aged >or=25 years in the United States. During 2009, 19.5% of high school students smoked cigarettes during the 30 days before the survey. During the 7 days before the survey, 77.7% of high school students had not eaten fruits and vegetables five or more times per day, 29.2% had drunk soda or pop at least one time per day, and 81.6% were not physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on all 7 days. One-third of high school students attended physical education classes daily, and 12.0% were obese. Since 1991, the prevalence of many health-risk behaviors among high school students nationwide has decreased. However, many high school students continue to engage in behaviors that place them at risk for the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of most risk behaviors does not vary substantially among cities and states. YRBS data are used to measure progress toward achieving 15 national health objectives for Healthy People 2010 and three of the 10 leading health indicators, to assess trends in priority health-risk behaviors among high school students, and to evaluate the impact of broad school and community interventions at the national, state, and local levels. More effective school health programs and other policy and programmatic interventions are needed to reduce risk and improve health outcomes among youth.
Article
This paper assessed the emotional and cognitive decision-making process regarding a hypothetical unplanned pregnancy in a convenience sample of female adolescents (N = 85; mean age 16.8), throughout an electronic role playing simulation. This work aimed at: describing adolescent’s emotional reactions and cognitive responses to an unplanned pregnancy; identifying personal attitudes toward parenthood; evaluating the role played by adolescents’ personal attitudes toward parenthood and positive and negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy or having an abortion in predicting the final choice (keeping the baby vs. having an abortion). Findings highlighted the presence of three main attitudes toward parenthood (parenthood idealization, rejection of commitment, adolescents’ expectations toward the partner) and the importance played by them together with negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy and having an abortion in guiding the adolescents’ decision-making process.
Book
37. Bonino S., Cattelino E. (a cura di, 2008). La prevenzione in adolescenza. Percorsi psicoeducativi di intervento sul rischio e la salute. Trento: Erickson
Article
The present study compared two theories of the association between romantic involvement and adjustment: a social timetable theory and a developmental task theory. We examined seven waves of longitudinal data on a community based sample of 200 participants (Wave 1 mean age = 15 years, 10 months). In each wave, multiple measures of substance use, externalizing symptoms, and internalizing symptoms were gathered, typically from multiple reporters. Multilevel modeling revealed that greater levels of romantic involvement in adolescence were associated with higher levels of substance use and externalizing symptoms but became associated with lower levels in adulthood. Having a romantic partner was associated with greater levels of substance use, externalizing symptoms, and internalizing symptoms in adolescence but was associated with lower levels in young adulthood. The findings were not consistent with a social timetable theory, which predicts that nonnormative involvement is associated with poor adjustment. Instead, the findings are consistent with a developmental task theory, which predicts that precocious romantic involvement undermines development and adaptation, but when romantic involvement becomes a salient developmental task in adulthood, it is associated with positive adjustment. Discussion focuses on the processes that may underlie the changing nature of the association between romantic involvement and adjustment.
Article
Used an information-processing task to investigate cognitive biases associated with trait anxiety in children. Participants were presented with ambiguous situations requiring them to generate interpretations and behavioral plans, The influence of parents on children's interpretations was also assessed by administering the ambiguous-situations questionnaire (ASQ) before and after a family discussion of those same situations. Results demonstrated a high correlation between trait anxiety scores and anxious responses during the ASQ (p < .01). In addition, parents' intervening discussion appeared to be related to changes in children's anxious responding. Although preliminary, the findings imply that cognitive biases related to anxiety in children are similar to those found in adults, and that parents might play a role in influencing the degree of these biases.
Article
Associations between romantic views and sexual behavior were examined in a community sample of 200 high school adolescents. This study incorporated interview and self-report measures of romantic views, assessed multiple facets of sexual behavior (frequency, rapidity, onset, and risky behavior), and examined light nongenital, heavy nongenital, and genital sexual behaviors. Avoidant romantic views were related to later onset of genital sexual behavior and less frequent sexual behavior, particularly light and heavy nongenital behaviors. Anxious views were related to more frequent sexual behavior and more risky behavior. Direct effects were found between avoidant views and light and heavy nongenital sexual frequency, and indirect effects were found between avoidant views and genital frequency, onset of heavy nongenital and genital sexual behavior.
Article
Acceptance of sexual and reproductive health as fundamental to the sustainable development of societies has allowed for creation of new reproductive health programmes and policies. WHO sexual and reproductive health (SRH) strategies were developed in the WHO Regional Office for Europe (2001), as well as globally (2004). Adolescent SRH is important in both strategies. Despite these commitments, adolescents remain vulnerable to poor reproductive health. The goal of this paper is to analyse the current status of SRH of adolescents in Europe. Key reproductive health indicators were chosen. Information was obtained from published studies, databases and questionnaires sent to WHO reproductive health counterparts within the health ministries in the Member States of the WHO European Region. Pregnancy rate, age at first sexual intercourse, contraceptive use at first and last intercourse, contraceptive prevalence, HIV knowledge, and STI rates vary widely according to the population considered. Gender difference and lack of information pertaining to SRH of all adolescent populations are other key findings. While the SRH of most European adolescents is good, they remain a vulnerable population. Lack of standardized reproductive indicators and age specific aggregate data make it difficult to accurately assess the situation in individual countries or perform cross country comparison.
Article
The goal of the present study was to investigate meanings of sexual intercourse in adolescence, and the relationships between meanings, gender, age, and sexual behaviors. Subjects were 201 Italian adolescents (107 boys and 94 girls), aged 14–19 ( M = 17.44, SD = 1.65). Participants completed a battery of questionnaires on meanings of sex, sexual activity and other risk behaviors. Using confirmatory factor analyses and ANOVAs, we found: four dimensions of meanings of sexual intercourse: negative social, personal, transgressional, and positive social meanings; females scored much lower on all four dimensions; negative social meanings were related to a lack of protection in sexual intercourse, whereas trangressional meanings were related to lack of protection at the first sexual intercourse only. Our findings suggest a similarity between meanings of sexual intercourse and meanings of others risk behaviors, including smoking. This similarity should be taken into account in prevention against health‐risk behaviors in youth.
Article
Recent data indicate that adolescent fertility rates in Peru remain high and that Peruvian adolescents and young adults account for a disproportionate share of new HIV infections. The present study was undertaken to identify key risk and protective factors for early sexual activity and unprotected sex among secondary-school students in nine large cities in Peru. Survey data from 6,962 students aged 13-18 are consistent with existing research in indicating that behaviors of Peruvian youth are influenced in important ways by many factors. In the present study, these included region of residence, family economic position, family structure, working for pay, peer behaviors, and self-esteem. Knowledge of pregnancy and of the risks of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases and of the means of avoiding both did not, however, differentiate risk-takers from non-risk-takers. The study findings suggest a need for adolescent health programs to broaden their focus beyond the immediate proximate determinants of behavior, such as sexual and reproductive health knowledge and access to contraceptives, and also to target some of the key contextual factors influencing adolescent behavior.
Article
In the United States, there exist a multitude of different approaches to reducing adolescent sexual risk-taking, unintended pregnancy, childbearing, and sexually transmitted disease, including HIV. While many of these approaches have some positive effects upon some outcomes (such as greater knowledge), only some of these programs actually delay the initiation of sex, increase condom or contraceptive use, and reduce unprotected sex among youth. This article summarizes a review of 73 studies and their respective programs, and describes four groups of programs which have reasonably strong evidence that they delay sex, increase condom or contraceptive use, or reduce teen pregnancy or childbearing. These four groups of programs include (a) sex and HIV education curricula with specified characteristics, (b) one-on-one clinician-patient protocols in health settings with some common qualities, (c) service learning programs, and (d) a particular intensive youth development program with multiple components.
Article
The high rate of HIV infection among youth in Africa has prompted both national and international attention. Education and prevention programmes are seen as the primary way of decreasing this rate. This paper reviews 11 published and evaluated school-based HIV/AIDS risk reduction programmes for youth in Africa. Most evaluations were quasi-experimental designs with pre-post test assessments. The programme objectives varied, with some targeting only knowledge, others attitudes, and others behaviour change. Ten of the 11 studies that assessed knowledge reported significant improvements. All seven that assessed attitudes reported some degree of change toward an increase in attitudes favourable to risk reduction. In one of the three studies that targeted sexual behaviours, sexual debut was delayed, and the number of sexual partners decreased. In one of the two that targeted condom use, condom use behaviours improved. The results of this review suggest that knowledge and attitudes are easiest to change, but behaviours are much more challenging. The article provides details about programmes and identifies characteristics of the most successful programmes. Clearly, however, more research is needed to identify, with certainty, the factors that drive successful school-based HIV/AIDS risk reduction programmes in Africa.
Article
This study investigated associations among adolescents' self-esteem in 6 domains (peers, school, family, sports/athletics, body image and global self-worth) and risk behaviours related to substance use, bullying, suicidality and sexuality. A multistage stratified sampling strategy was used to select a representative sample of 939 English-, Afrikaans- and Xhosa-speaking students in Grades 8 and 11 at public high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants completed the multidimensional Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ; DuBois, Felner, Brand, Phillips, & Lease, 1996) and a self-report questionnaire containing items about demographic characteristics and participation in a range of risk behaviours. It included questions about their use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, solvents and other substances, bullying, suicidal ideation and attempts, and risky sexual behaviour. Data was analysed using a series of logistic regression models, with the estimation of model parameters being done through generalised estimation equations. Scores on each self-esteem scale were significantly associated with at least one risk behaviour in male and female adolescents after controlling for the sampling strategy, grade and race. However, specific self-esteem domains were differentially related to particular risk behaviours. After taking the correlations between the self-esteem scales into account, low self-esteem in the family and school contexts and high self-esteem in the peer domain were significantly independently associated with multiple risk behaviours in adolescents of both sexes. Low body-image self-esteem and global self-worth were also uniquely associated with risk behaviours in girls, but not in boys. Overall, the findings suggest that interventions that aim to protect adolescents from engaging in risk behaviours by increasing their self-esteem are likely to be most effective and cost-efficient if they are aimed at the family and school domains.
Article
To evaluate the efficacy of an abstinence-centered sex education program in adolescent pregnancy prevention, the TeenSTAR Program was applied in a high school in Santiago, Chile. A total of 1259 girls from a Santiago high school were divided into three cohorts depending on the year they started high school: the 1996 cohort of 425 students, which received no intervention; the 1997 cohort, in which 210 students received an intervention and 213 (control group) did not; and the 1998 cohort, in which 328 students received an intervention and 83 (control group) did not. Students were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups in these cohorts, before starting with the program. We conducted a prospective, randomized study using the application of the TeenSTAR sex education program during the first year of high school to the intervention groups in the 1997 and 1998 cohorts. All cohorts were followed up for 4 years; pregnancy rates were recorded and subsequently contrasted in the intervention and control groups. Pregnancy rates were measured and Risk Ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated for intervention and control groups in each cohort. Pregnancy rates for the intervention and control groups in the 1997 cohort were 3.3% and 18.9%, respectively (RR: 0.176, CI: 0.076-0.408). Pregnancy rates for the intervention and control groups in the 1998 cohort were 4.4% and 22.6%, respectively (RR 0.195, CI: 0.099-0.384). The abstinence-centered TeenSTAR sex education intervention was effective in the prevention of unintended adolescent pregnancy.
Article
The current analyses attempt to clarify the relationship between psychological factors and sexual behavior. We test a model examining relationships between sexual history (e.g., age at initiation, partner history) and self-esteem and emotional distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, hostility) and their impact on future sexual risk behavior (e.g., unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners). The current analyses included 155 sexually active adolescent females, aged 14-19 years, who participated in the first two waves of a longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted disease (STD) and pregnancy risk. The Rosenberg Self-esteem scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and three subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (depression, anxiety, hostility) and a variety of self-report measures of sexual history and sexual behavior were administered. Structural equation modeling using LISREL 8.51 was used to assess the proposed model. Our model exhibited adequate fit and demonstrated that sexual history reported retrospectively at baseline was related to self-esteem and emotional distress also measured at baseline. These variables predicted sexual risk behavior measured 6 months later. Adolescents who had lower self-esteem at baseline reported initiating sex earlier and having had risky partners. Alternatively, adolescents with more emotional distress at baseline were less likely to have had a previous STD, had more partners per year of sexual activity and a history of risky partners. Self-esteem influenced subsequent unprotected sex and emotional distress influenced subsequent multiple partners. This model suggests that self-esteem and emotional distress have contrasting relationships with sexual behavior and demonstrates the importance of the temporal nature of these variables. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Article
Associations among dating, sexual activity, gender, and adjustment were investigated in 2,273 Italian adolescents (54% female, ages 14 to 19 years) attending public high schools. After controlling for age and type of school attended, both being in a dating relationship and being male were associated with less alienation, more positive views of the self, and higher general expectations for success. Sexual activity interacted with both gender and dating status in predicting feelings of depression. For boys, there were no differences between youth who were sexually active and youth who were not; however, sexually active girls had higher levels of depressive symptoms than girls who were not sexually active. Among youth who were not sexually active, there were small differences between daters and nondaters; among sexually active youth, daters had lower levels of depression than nondaters. Gender differences in adolescents' experience of dating and sexual relationships and implications for adjustment are discussed.
Article
Adolescents are known to be frequent users of the Internet, but less is known about the frequency and nature of their searches for information about health and sexuality. In theory, the Internet offers adolescents unprecedented access to such information in a convenient and confidential way. In turn, this information may help them to seek medical care or advice. This article reviews new research relating to adolescents' uses of the Internet for health and sexuality information, including contextual adult population studies. Adolescents are using the Internet in order to find health information on a range of subjects. Search engines are the primary strategy for such searches. The quality of the online experience is often limited by health/online literacy skills. The only reference to adolescents' quests for online information about sexuality was that they frequently sought this information from a Web site created primarily to provide information about sexually transmitted diseases. Empirical research with adolescents on this subject is scarce. More research is needed regarding issues such as the impact of software filters on ability to access health information and the medium's potential to help and harm adolescents.
Blackwell handbook of adolescence
  • G R Adams
  • M D Berzonsky
Adams, G. R., & Berzonsky, M. D. (2008). Blackwell handbook of adolescence. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
Autoef cacia interpersonale
  • G V Caprara
  • M Gerbino
  • A Delle Fratte
Caprara, G. V., Gerbino, M., & Delle Fratte, A. (2001). Autoef cacia interpersonale. In G. V. Caprara (Ed.), La valutazione dell'autoef cacia (pp. 51-61). Trento: Erickson.
Self-esteem in early adolescence: from stock character to marquee attraction
  • D L Dubois
  • B Hirsh
DuBois, D. L., & Hirsh, B. (2000). Self-esteem in early adolescence: from stock character to marquee attraction. Journal of Early Adolescence, 20, 5-11.
What works for adolescent sexual and reproductive health: lessons from experimental evaluations of programs and interventions
  • H Fish
  • J Manlove
  • K A Moore
  • E Mass
Fish, H., Manlove, J., Moore, K. A., & Mass, E. (2014). What works for adolescent sexual and reproductive health: lessons from experimental evaluations of programs and interventions. Publication# 2014-64. Child Trends.
Le malattie sessualmente trasmesse e l'infezione da HIV-1 negli adolescenti italiani
  • M Giuliani
  • B Suligoi
Giuliani, M., & Suligoi, B. (2000). Le malattie sessualmente trasmesse e l'infezione da HIV-1 negli adolescenti italiani, Minerva Ginecologica, 5, 15-21.
Teen STAR Program Evaluation in Three Countries
  • S Grzelak
Grzelak, S. (2004). Teen STAR Program Evaluation in Three Countries: Poland, Chile, and USA (2002-2004). Washington, DC: Natural Family Planning Center of Washington.
Natalità e fecondità della popolazione residente
  • Istat
ISTAT (2012). Natalità e fecondità della popolazione residente. Anno 2012. Retrieved August, 30, 2016, from http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/104818.
L'affettività & la sessualità nella scuola che cambia
  • M Maggi
Maggi, M. (a cura di) (2005). L'affettività & la sessualità nella scuola che cambia. Piacenza: Editrice Berti.
Educazione affettivo-sessuale dei giovani: il programma Teen STAR
  • D Mansi
Mansi, D. (2015). Educazione affettivo-sessuale dei giovani: il programma Teen STAR. Studia Bioethica, 8(3), 27-30.
L'applicazione ad un gruppo di adolescenti italiani del Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ)
  • G Melotti
  • S Passini
Melotti, G., & Passini, S. (2002). L'applicazione ad un gruppo di adolescenti italiani del Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ). Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata, 238, 59-70.
Relazione del Ministro della Salute sulla attuazione della legge contenente norme per la tutela sociale della maternità e per l'interruzione volontaria della gravidanza (legge 194/78). Dati preliminari 2013. Dati de nitivi 2012
  • Ministero Della Salute
Ministero della Salute (2014). Relazione del Ministro della Salute sulla attuazione della legge contenente norme per la tutela sociale della maternità e per l'interruzione volontaria della gravidanza (legge 194/78). Dati preliminari 2013. Dati de nitivi 2012. Retrieved August, 30, 2016, from http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2226_alle-gato.pdf.
L'adolescente e i gruppi di coetanei
  • M L Pombeni
Pombeni, M. L. (1997). L'adolescente e i gruppi di coetanei. In A. Palmonari (Ed.), Psicologia dell'adolescenza (pp. 251-270). Bologna: Il Mulino.
Peer education e prevenzione dell'infezione da HIV: valutazione di un intervento
  • C Simonelli
  • R Rossi
  • C Selvaggi
  • C Accattatis
Simonelli, C., Rossi, R., Selvaggi, C., & Accattatis, C. (2002). Peer education e prevenzione dell'infezione da HIV: valutazione di un intervento. Rivista di Sessuologia Clinica, 1, 17-30.
Le caratteristiche personali come mediatori dell'ef cacia dei corsi di educazione sessuale: una ricerca nell'area orentina
  • M Smorti
Smorti, M. (2003). Le caratteristiche personali come mediatori dell'ef cacia dei corsi di educazione sessuale: una ricerca nell'area orentina. Psicologia della Salute, 3, 135-147.
I modelli di educazione sessuale in Italia
  • F Tripodi
  • L Pierleoni
  • C Simonelli
Tripodi, F., Pierleoni, L., & Simonelli, C. (2005). I modelli di educazione sessuale in Italia. Rivista di Sessuologia Clinica, 7(1), 25-44.
International technical guidance on sexuality education
UNESCO (2009). International technical guidance on sexuality education. Vol. I -Rationale for sexuality education. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://www.unesdoc. unesco.org/images/0018/001832/183281e.pdf.
Sexuality education in Europe: a reference guide to policies and practices, The SAFE Project
  • K Wellings
  • R Parker
Wellings, K., & Parker, R. (2006). Sexuality education in Europe: a reference guide to policies and practices, The SAFE Project. London, UK: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.