Unwanted Sexual Activity among Peers during Early and Middle Adolescence: Incidence and Risk Factors

Abstract

The present investigation assesses the incidence and risk factors of unwanted sexual activity initiated by peers for a sample of 1,149 adolescent females. Twenty percent of the sample reported some type of unwanted sexual contact in the past year. Of this group, over one-third reported that they had been forced to have sexual intercourse; the remaining two-thirds reported unwanted touching. Boyfriends were the most commonly reported perpetrators followed by dates, friends, and acquaintances. Individuals were more vulnerable to unwanted sexual contact if they had a history of sexual abuse, reported excessive alcohol use in the past month, scored high in peer conformity, or had parents who did not monitor their behavior closely or use an authoritative parenting style.