Health Psychology

More than ever, researchers now consider a person’s age as a significant factor in sexual health. Age has always been a factor, but only because age factors into things like endurance and, theoretically, experience in sexual activities. However, recently concluded studies are starting to show that age may have a more direct impact on a person’s sexual health, particularly if more outside factors are brought into consideration. According to the study, people who lose their virginity at a younger or older age than average (which can be rather subjective, depending on certain community factors) can develop physical and psychological “quirks” related to sex.

One of the first things researchers noted was just how little significant impact abstinence-only education had on the statistics. According to the raw statistical data, people who lost their virginity at a younger age were at a significantly higher risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease later on in life than average. It also appeared to increase the chances of a person developing other sexual health risk factors, such as engaging in intercourse with multiple partners and developing a history of alcohol-influenced sexual contact. Knowledge of contraception methods other than abstinence had an impact in reducing the STD risks, but abstinence-only education didn’t show any significant effects and, as implied by some of the data, may actually increase the risks.

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