Ott Mary A, Pfeiffer Elizabeth J, Fortenberry J Dennis
Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA.
J Adolesc Health. 2006 Aug;39(2):192-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.12.009.
Sexual abstinence has become the primary response to adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. However, most abstinence programs are based on adult ideas of abstinence, and little is known about how adolescents themselves conceptualize sexual abstinence.
In this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured exploratory interviews with 42 adolescents aged 11-17 years recruited from primary care clinics.
We observed marked confusion over the term "abstinence." However, the concept of abstinence, or choosing not to have sex, was clear and relevant. Participants viewed sexual abstinence as part of a normal developmental continuum. All adolescents were abstinent for a period of time, and then transitioned to sexual activity when they were ready. Readiness was determined by (1) individual factors, such as age, life events, physical maturity and social maturity, (2) relationship factors such as being with the "right" person, or having a committed relationship, (3) moral and religious beliefs, and (4) the balance of health, social, and family risks and benefits. Sex was considered something powerful, and the transition to first sex a rite of passage in which adolescents took on what they perceived to be adult roles. We observed differences by age, gender, and sexual experience in how adolescents determined readiness.
Adolescents conceptualize sexual abstinence differently than adults, with differences by age, gender and sexual experience. Rather than a simple behavioral decision, our participants viewed abstinence as a broader part of normal development and viewed the transition to sex as an important rite of passage to adulthood.
性禁欲已成为应对青少年怀孕和性传播感染（STI）预防的主要措施。然而，大多数禁欲项目是基于成年人对禁欲的观念，对于青少年自身如何理解性禁欲却知之甚少。
在这项定性研究中，我们对从初级保健诊所招募的42名11至17岁的青少年进行了半结构化探索性访谈。
我们发现青少年对“禁欲”一词存在明显的困惑。然而，禁欲的概念，即选择不发生性行为，是清晰且相关的。参与者将性禁欲视为正常发育连续体的一部分。所有青少年都有一段时间禁欲，然后在他们准备好时过渡到性活动。准备好的程度由以下因素决定：（1）个人因素，如年龄、生活事件、身体成熟度和社会成熟度；（2）关系因素，如与“合适的”人在一起或有稳定的恋爱关系；（3）道德和宗教信仰；（4）健康、社会和家庭风险与益处的平衡。性行为被认为是强大的，向首次性行为的过渡是一种成人仪式，青少年在其中承担他们所认为的成人角色。我们观察到青少年在确定准备好的程度方面存在年龄、性别和性经验的差异。
青少年对性禁欲的概念化与成年人不同，存在年龄、性别和性经验的差异。我们的参与者并非将禁欲视为一个简单的行为决定，而是将其视为正常发育中更广泛的一部分，并将向性行为的过渡视为步入成年的重要成人仪式。
