TY - JOUR
T1 - Body image and first sexual intercourse in late adolescence
AU - Vasilenko, Sara A.
AU - Ram, Nilam
AU - Lefkowitz, Eva S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to Eva Lefkowitz ( R-01 HD 41720 ). We would like to thank Jennifer Maggs and Meghan Gillen for commenting on an earlier version of this manuscript, as well as the following individuals involved in data collection: Sandra Abarca, Lauren Dietz, Jennifer Fang, Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, Shelley Hosterman, McKenzie Jones, Emily Killoren, Casey O’Neil, Annie Pezella, Cindy Shearer and Tara Stoppa.
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Sexual behavior is associated with body image, but the directionality of this association is unclear. This study used longitudinal data from a sample of previously abstinent college students (N = 100, 45% female, 49% European American, 26% Latino American, 25% African American) to test whether satisfaction with appearance changed after first intercourse. Male students were more satisfied with their appearance after first intercourse, whereas female students became slightly less satisfied with their appearance. These findings demonstrate that first intercourse can lead to changes in well-being, even if the transition takes places in late adolescence. In addition, they suggest that gendered cultural expectations regarding sexual behavior are associated with differing psychological outcomes for male and female adolescents.
AB - Sexual behavior is associated with body image, but the directionality of this association is unclear. This study used longitudinal data from a sample of previously abstinent college students (N = 100, 45% female, 49% European American, 26% Latino American, 25% African American) to test whether satisfaction with appearance changed after first intercourse. Male students were more satisfied with their appearance after first intercourse, whereas female students became slightly less satisfied with their appearance. These findings demonstrate that first intercourse can lead to changes in well-being, even if the transition takes places in late adolescence. In addition, they suggest that gendered cultural expectations regarding sexual behavior are associated with differing psychological outcomes for male and female adolescents.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.04.005
DO - 10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.04.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 20488512
AN - SCOPUS:79951957051
SN - 0140-1971
VL - 34
SP - 327
EP - 335
JO - Journal of Adolescence
JF - Journal of Adolescence
IS - 2
ER -
