Parents of teenagers spend most of their time trying to stop their kids having sex with their girlfriend or boyfriend — but a new study suggests parents might be better off just letting it happen.
Researchers from the University of Texas have found that sexually active teens in committed relationships are less likely to engage in anti-social and delinquent behaviour than those who are not having sex at all.
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However teenagers who have casual sex are the most likely to misbehave, showing far higher levels of anti-social behaviour than any other group.
Study leader Paige Harden says the results may suggest that teenagers who spend more time alone with their boyfriends or girlfriends don’t have as many chances to get into trouble.
The study, which was published in the June issue of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, examined 519 pairs of identical twins between the ages of 13 and 18.
Researchers quizzed the twins on their sexual activity and delinquent behaviour and identified several twins who had different sexual experiences, despite being genetically identical and being raised the same way.
Those who were sexually active in committed relationships displayed less anti-social behaviour than their twins who were abstinent or having casual sex.
In a separate study, published in the June issue of Child Development, Harden investigated the myth that intelligent teens wait longer to have sex.
The research found that family background and socioeconomic factors influenced the age teens lost their virginity, not how smart they were.
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The study again focused on twins and found that twin siblings lost their virginity at a similar age, regardless of their differing academic abilities.
Harden says the findings proved that teens from poorer families were more likely to struggle in school and have sex young, while those from wealthier families got better grades and delayed sex due to better schools and more parental supervision.
Your say: Are you surprised by this research that claims teenagers in romantic sexual relationships are less likely to get into trouble than those who don’t have sex?
Video: Sexting and our teens
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