US study: Teen sex 'not always bad' for studies
LOS ANGELES â For parents who always worry about how their teenagers' sex lives are affecting their studies, a provocative new study has this to say: teens in "committed relationships" are not better or worse in school than those who do not have sex. The same isn't true for teens who merely "hook up," or those who have "casual sex." Researchers found that those who have casual flings get lower grades and have more school-related problems compared with those who abstain. The findings, presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Sociological Association in Atlanta, challenge to some extent assumptions that sexually active teens tend to do poorer in school. It's not so much whether a teen has sex that determines academic success, the researchers say, but the type of sexual relationship they're engaged in. Teens in serious relationships may find social and emotional support from their sex partners, reducing their anxiety and stress levels in life and in school. "This should give some comfort to parents who may be concerned that their teenage son or daughter is dating," said sociologist Peggy Giordano of Bowling Green State University, who had no role in the research. Teen sex is "not going to derail their educational trajectories," she said. Last year, nearly half of high school students reported having sexual intercourse, and 14 percent have had four or more partners, according to a federal survey released this summer. For the study, University of California, Davis sociologist Bill McCarthy and University of Minnesota sociologist Eric Grodsky analyzed surveys and school transcripts from the largest national follow-up study of teens that began during the 1994-95 academic year. The researchers said in the past decade, not much has changed when it comes to the average age when teens first have sex or about their attitudes toward sex. They examined not only how the teens' sexual behaviors affected their learning but also how certain factors might influence the results. Among their findings are: