Sexual experiences of 1580 delinquent adolescent males ages 9-19
years admitted to a juvenile detention center from January 1985 to
July 1990 were determined through a structured health history
interview. A total of 89.6% admitted to prior sexual activity; 26.8%
claimed sexual experience by age 11 years. Only 3.2% reported sexual
abuse or incest. Of 334 sexually active adolescents who revealed both
age of their first partner and their age of first intercourse, 42% had
their first experience with a female 2 or more years older. Males who
had their first sexual experience before age 11 years or with a female
2 or more years older, reported significantly larger numbers of sexual
partners in their lifetime and during the year preceding their
incarceration. Girls with similar first sexual experiences in terms of
age of initiation and age difference from partner are considered to be
abused. Practitioners who work with children and adolescents need to
recognize the possibility of sexual activity among pre-adolescent
males and to be aware of its implications.