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While most adults prefer that teens under age 18 not have sex, consensus is even stronger for “middle school” youth -- those age 14 and younger (Moore & Stief, 1991). There is good reason to be especially concerned about sexual activity among these very young adolescents.

Readers should be aware that all of the following data is nationally-representative [summary] except where noted. For more detailed information on the sexual behavior of young adolescents, please see the National Campaign publication, 14 & Younger: The Sexual Behavior of Young Adolescents (www.teenpregnancy.org).

Educational Attainment and Lost Tax Revenue. Estimates are taken from Hoffman and Scher (forthcoming), which updates the analysis by Haveman,Wolfe, and Peterson in Kids Having Kids. Data come from the NLSY79-Young Adult sample, which includes children of the original NLSY79 sample of young women, ages 14-21 in 1979. Gross impact estimates are based on a comparison of mean high school graduation rates by age of mother at first birth. Net impact estimates are based on a model that controls for a large set of individual and family characteristics. High school graduation models are estimated by logit, years of education by tobit.

These additional births also seem somewhat puzzling. After all, many teen mothers struggle with caring for their infant or toddler, whether alone or with help from family, and often with little or no help from the child’s father. They regularly confront sleepless nights, crowded days, and restricted social activities. Attending school can be challenging, and graduating even more so. Given all this, why do such a large percentage become pregnant again and have a second child relatively quickly after the first, and what can be done to alter this pattern?

This collection of papers on early adolescent sexual behavior includes seven papers in two parts. Part 1, "Papers from Nationally Representative Data Sets," includes (1) "Dating and Sexual Experiences among Middle School Youth: Analyses of the NLSY97" (Elizabeth Terry-Humen and Jennifer Manlove); "(2) "Dating Behavior and Sexual Activity of Young Adolescents: Analyses of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health" (Hannah Bruckner and Peter Bearman); and (3) "Sexual Activity among Girls Under Age 15: Findings from the National Survey of Family Growth" (Christine M. Flanigan). Part 2, "Papers from Small Area Data Sets," includes (4) "The Development of Sex-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceived Norms, and Behaviors in a Longitudinal Cohort of Middle School Children" (Cynthia A. Gomez, Karin K. Coyle, Steve Gregorich, Barbara VanOss Marin, and Douglas B. Kirby); (5) "Youth with Older Boyfriends and Girlfriends: Associations with Sexual Risk" (Barbara VanOss Marin, Douglas B. Kirby, Esther S. Hudes, Cynthia A. Gomez, and Karin K. Coyle); (6) "Community Concerns and Communication among Young Teens and Their Parents: Data from California Communities" (Susan Philliber); and (7) "Sexual Behavior among Young Teens in Disadvantaged Areas of Seven Cities" (Susan Philliber and Michael Carrera). The data come from surveying 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds as one group; surveying a group of 12-year-olds and then following them over time as they turned 13 and 14; and surveying older teens about their experiences when age 14 and younger. Among the findings of the studies: nearly one in five adolescents has had sex before his or her 15th birthday; contraceptive use among young adolescents is relatively low; and sexually experienced youth age 14 and younger are much more likely to smoke, use drugs and alcohol, and participate in delinquent activities than youth who have not had sex. (Papers contain references.)