Risky Business
Have American Teenagers Lost Their Innocence?
Stephanie DiBrita
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
Results from a Quadrangle poll of 50 students from the freshman class revealed that more than half of students polled had had sexual intercourse before college. Data also suggested that the polled students who are not participating in sexual intercourse are likely participating in oral sex. Of the students polled that are having sex, 15 percent revealed they have never used protection.
A recent article by the New York Times titled, "The Myth of Rampant Teenage Promiscuity," showcased a study by the National Center for Health Statistics which reported the sexual habits of high school teenagers ranging from ages 15-19. With high school seniors ultimately turning into college freshman, it seems only natural to question the innocence and purity of this freshman class.
The Quadrangle decided to conduct a survey of 50 random freshmen, 25 girls and 25 five boys in Horan Hall and across campus in order to see if the results of the MC poll would draw parallels to the study from the National Center for Health Statistics. In the survey of MC freshmen, the questions asked were, "Did you have sex in high school? If so, what year did you lose your virginity? If you do not participate in sex, do you participate in oral sex? If you engage in either, how often do you use protection?" Students who participated in the poll were also asked to state their gender. Surveys such as this rely on the truthfulness of the participants and focus on a small group to predict those of an entire class. With that said, the survey yielded surprising results.
While the National Study showed that more than half of all high school students have retained their virginity, the survey at MC demonstrated that more than half (15 boys and 11 girls) of the 50 students surveyed did in fact have sexual intercourse in high school. This was a significantly distinct contradiction of what the National Study found. Of the other MC students polled that did not participate in intercourse, 15 out of the remaining 24 actively participated in oral sex. The National Study discovered that among the teens that have not had intercourse, 16% said they have participated in oral sex.
A recent article by the New York Times titled, "The Myth of Rampant Teenage Promiscuity," showcased a study by the National Center for Health Statistics which reported the sexual habits of high school teenagers ranging from ages 15-19. With high school seniors ultimately turning into college freshman, it seems only natural to question the innocence and purity of this freshman class.
The Quadrangle decided to conduct a survey of 50 random freshmen, 25 girls and 25 five boys in Horan Hall and across campus in order to see if the results of the MC poll would draw parallels to the study from the National Center for Health Statistics. In the survey of MC freshmen, the questions asked were, "Did you have sex in high school? If so, what year did you lose your virginity? If you do not participate in sex, do you participate in oral sex? If you engage in either, how often do you use protection?" Students who participated in the poll were also asked to state their gender. Surveys such as this rely on the truthfulness of the participants and focus on a small group to predict those of an entire class. With that said, the survey yielded surprising results.
While the National Study showed that more than half of all high school students have retained their virginity, the survey at MC demonstrated that more than half (15 boys and 11 girls) of the 50 students surveyed did in fact have sexual intercourse in high school. This was a significantly distinct contradiction of what the National Study found. Of the other MC students polled that did not participate in intercourse, 15 out of the remaining 24 actively participated in oral sex. The National Study discovered that among the teens that have not had intercourse, 16% said they have participated in oral sex.