Grant L M, Demetriou E
Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts.
Pediatr Clin North Am. 1988 Dec;35(6):1271-89. doi: 10.1016/s0031-3955(16)36583-x.
The consequences of adolescent sexual behavior are an enormous burden both for the adolescent and society. The problem is not that teens are sexually active but rather that they have little preparation and guidance in developing responsible sexual behavior. Developmentally, adolescents reach physical maturity before they are cognitively able to appreciate the consequences of their behavior. A teenager's primary source of information regarding sexuality is his or her peer group, all of whom are experiencing and reinforcing the same behaviors. The family, the major socializer of other behaviors, is not as powerful a force in shaping responsible sexual behavior because of parental discomfort with sex education and sexual discussions. This is the result of a social milieu in which sex is frequently portrayed but rarely linked with responsible behavior or accurate, nonjudgmental information. The pediatric practitioner is in an ideal position to intervene in these dynamics. In the office, the practitioner can provide accurate sexual information to both parents and adolescents, support parental-child communication on sexual issues, and provide appropriate services or referral. In the community, the practitioner can advocate for school-based sex education as well as act as an information resource. Finally, the practitioner can advocate for the health care needs for adolescents on a national level, supporting legislation that provides adolescents with information and access to services necessary to make responsible sexual decisions.
青少年性行为的后果对青少年自身和社会来说都是巨大的负担。问题不在于青少年有性行为，而是他们在培养负责任的性行为方面几乎没有准备和指导。从发育角度来看，青少年在认知上能够理解其行为后果之前就已达到生理成熟。青少年关于性的主要信息来源是其同龄群体，他们都在经历并强化同样的行为。家庭作为其他行为的主要社会化影响因素，在塑造负责任的性行为方面却没有那么强大的作用，因为父母对性教育和性话题感到不适。这是由于社会环境造成的，在这样的环境中，性常常被描绘，但很少与负责任的行为或准确、无偏见的信息联系起来。儿科医生处于干预这些动态情况的理想位置。在诊所里，医生可以向父母和青少年提供准确的性信息，支持亲子间关于性问题的沟通，并提供适当的服务或转介。在社区中，医生可以倡导开展以学校为基础的性教育，并充当信息资源。最后，医生可以在国家层面上倡导满足青少年的医疗保健需求，支持为青少年提供信息和获得做出负责任的性决策所需服务的立法。
