The Pennsylvania State University.
University of Connecticut.
J Res Adolesc. 2017 Sep;27(3):611-627. doi: 10.1111/jora.12303. Epub 2017 Feb 10.
The present research examined how the within-person association between sexual initiation and internalizing symptoms decays over time, using data with annual measurement occasions across adolescence (N = 1,789) and statistical models of within-person change. Sexual initiation was associated with increased levels of internalizing symptoms for early-initiating girls (ninth grade, approximately age 15), but not for on-time-initiating girls or for boys. The association between girls' early sexual initiation and internalizing symptoms declined precipitously over time. Indeed, 1 year after sexual debut, early-initiating girls were similar to on-time or noninitiating girls on internalizing symptoms, suggesting early sexual initiation does not produce lasting detriments to girls' mental health. Findings inform how researchers perceive sexual initiation, both as a developmental milestone and as a prevention target.
本研究使用跨青春期（N=1789）的年度测量数据和个体内变化的统计模型，考察了性初潮与内化症状之间的个体内关联随时间的衰减情况。性初潮与早期初潮女孩（九年级，大约 15 岁）的内化症状水平升高有关，但与按时初潮的女孩或男孩无关。女孩早期性初潮与内化症状之间的关联随时间迅速下降。事实上，在性初潮后 1 年，早期初潮的女孩在内化症状上与按时或未初潮的女孩相似，这表明早期性初潮不会对女孩的心理健康产生持久的损害。研究结果为研究人员如何看待性初潮提供了信息，既将其视为发展里程碑，也将其视为预防目标。
