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by amy kr
photo © Stephen Jeter
When a girl is a senior in high school she is something of a big fish in the
little pond of the teenage world. She has likely been through quite a bit
and she can look back on her relationships with friends, with boys, and
with her parents and have some perspective. She has experience, regrets,
and wisdom to share with those a little bit younger. But she’s also on the
cusp of the rest of her life, and that’s a gigantic ocean of unknowns. She
has much to reflect on, and much to anticipate—especially when it comes
to sex, love, relationships, and sex.
That’s why The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy teamed up with Seventeen Magazine and asked 1,200 12th grade
girls to share their intimate, candid thoughts with us. In the springtime
of their senior year, as they prepared for finals, prom, graduation, summer vacation, summer jobs, college, and their entry into the world beyond
high school, these girls shared their ideas about sex, contraception, their
parents, their pasts, and their futures. This report takes an in-depth look
at 12th grade girls in an effort to disentangle them from other high school
teens, and also from other young adults. We wanted to dig a little deeper
into how this specific slice of the teenage population thinks and feels
about what they’ve learned so far and what lies ahead (see complete
methodology on page 27).
Nationally, girls in 12th grade look like this:
Social Life:*
• 82% get together informally with friends at least once a week.
• 70% go out at least two evenings per week for fun and recreation.
• 67% use Facebook or other social media almost every day.
• 65% go to parties or other social events at least once a month.
• 50% spend at least 10 hours per week texting on their cell phones
(less than 20% report talking on a cell phone that much).
• 36% go out on a date at least once a week.
Sex:*
• 96% have had some sort of sex education, including 70% who
have learned about methods of birth control.
• 65% have ever had sex.
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• 53% have had sex in the last three months.
• 46% of those who are currently sexually active used a condom the
last time they had sex.
• 19% have had sex with at least four different partners.
• 11% say they have been forced to have sex when they didn’t want
to at some time.
After High School:*
• 88% think their lives will get better in the next five years.
• 66% plan to graduate from a 4-year college program; 25% plan to
graduate from a 2-year college program.
• 64% agree or mostly agree that they are eager to leave home and
live independently of their parents.
In addition, 18- and 19-year-olds—high school seniors and those just a
year or two older—account for two-thirds of all teenage pregnancies in the
United States. Then they enter their twenties, where twice as many unplanned pregnancies occur than do to teens. Of all pregnancies to unmarried women in their 20s, seven in 10 are unplanned.
This is what they told us:
• Advice About Sex, Love, and Relationships. The #1 piece of advice
senior girls have for younger girls: it’s okay to be a virgin when you
graduate from high school. More than eight in 10 (84%) say it is
important for younger girls to know that, including 87% of senior girls
who have already had sex themselves. These 12th graders have a lot
of relationship guidance to give and their advice comes from experience, especially since so many of them wish they’d handled their own
relationships differently.
• Pressure and Regret. Pressure is real and so is regret: Nearly four
out of five senior girls (79%) say there is pressure in high school to be
* These data come from:
• 2010 Monitoring the Future report: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/datavolues/2010/2010dv.pdf
• 2009 YRBS: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm
• 2006-2008 NSFG: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.pdf
• 2010 National Center for Education Statistics report: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012045.pdf
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sexually experienced and one in five (22%) say they were pressured to
have sex the first time. However, they say this pressure comes more
from their friends, themselves, and the world around them than it does
from boys. Of those who have had sex with someone they did not
love, slightly more than seven in 10 (71%) regret it.
• The First Time. Having sex for the first time is a big deal, but it’s rarely
a fairytale. Only about half of senior girls (51%) who have had sex
say their first time was a “mostly good” experience. Three out of four
(76%) who have had sex say they would change something about
their first time if they could re-do it. Looking back on it, these girls are
less happy about their first time now than they were at the time, and
more regretful.
• Contraception and Prevention. Birth control is not a foreign concept.
Nearly three out of four senior girls (72%) say they have talked to
their friends about contraception, which is twice as many as say they
have talked to their parents (35%) about it. Most know there’s more
to learn about birth control and many say they wish they were more
knowledgeable.
• Parents. Girls say parents are important. More than six in 10 senior
girls (62%) say younger girls shouldn’t be afraid of talking to their
parents about personal stuff and 39% who have lied to their parents
about their sex lives regret doing so. In fact, more than two-thirds
(68%) of senior girls say they’ll still want to talk to their parents about
sex, love, relationships, and pregnancy prevention in the future just as
much as they did while in high school.
ter about what lies ahead for them socially than they do about what
they've already been through. More than three out of four senior girls
(76%) would change something about their romantic lives in high
school if they could. For example, 43% of those who have already had
sex wish they’d waited longer. Even though there is a lot of regret in
this cohort—from unprotected sex to nude cell phone photos—their
optimism remains. They are eager to fall in love and have more freedom and what they are most looking forward to (68%) is having more
confidence in themselves.
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photo © SNAP!
• Looking Back/Looking Forward. Hopefully these girls will feel bet-
ADVICE ABOUT SEX, LOVE, AND RELATIONSHIPS
In addition to wanting younger girls to know that it’s okay to delay sex
until after high school, nearly eight out of 10 senior girls—whether they’re
headed to 4-year colleges, community colleges, or elsewhere, whether
they’ve already had sex or never even been in a relationship, whether they
are white, black, or Hispanic—agree on the following advice for younger
girls:
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PIECES OF ADVICE DO YOU THINK
ARE IMPORTANT FOR YOUNGER HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS?
n=1200
Don’t do something that makes you uncomfortable just to please a guy.
82%
Don’t stress about falling in love; it will happen someday.
78%
It is better to break up than stay in a relationship that’s bad for you.
78%
Don’t worry so much about trying to impress boys.
78%
There is also widespread agreement among senior girls about setting
limits and saying no. A full 70% say it’s important for younger girls to set
boundaries for themselves when it comes to sex and hooking up. Nearly
as many (69%) want to remind younger girls that you don’t have to have
sex with someone just because you’ve done it before. More than four in
10 (42%) say it’s best to wait until after high school to have sex, including
more than one-third (36%) of girls who have already had sex themselves.
By this time in their lives, more than half (56%) of senior girls, whether
they’ve had sex or not, say they’ve had a serious relationship with someone. Even more of them (60%) say they’ve had a broken heart. Many of
those who have not had sex have already been in love (43%) and nearly
half (49%) of 12th grade virgins have had their hearts broken. One out of
every three senior girls (34%) says she’s been cheated on. Looking back
on their own love lives, about a quarter of senior girls (28%) say they wish
they’d had a serious relationship in high school, a quarter (25%) wish they
hadn’t wasted so much time on a relationship in high school, and nearly as
many (23%) wish they hadn’t wasted so much time looking for a relationship in high school. More than half of senior girls (54%) want younger
girls to know that it’s also important to have guys in your life that you are
“just friends” with.
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photo © Stephen Jeter
PRESSURE AND REGRET
A sizable majority of senior girls (79%) say there is pressure to be sexually
experienced in high school and more than half say that pressure comes
directly from their friends—both from friends who talk about their own
sexual experiences (47%) and from friends who tease other people about
sex (26%). What goes on beyond their immediate circle also makes an
impact—51% say that what they hear about what other teens are doing is
a source of pressure; 45% say they feel pressure based on what they see
in TV and movies.
Of course, the media can also motivate teens to be more cautious about
sex and pregnancy. Seven out of 10 senior girls say they have watched
MTV’s 16 and Pregnant or Teen Mom reality programs and 72% of those
viewers them say the shows “help motivate [them] to delay pregnancy
and parenthood.” Fewer than one in 10 (8%) who have seen the shows
say watching makes them want to have a baby as teenager.
One in three senior girls says she has been made fun of about sex, including 28% who say they’ve been teased about their lack of sexual experience (including 22% of girls who have already had sex). Only 20% recall
teasing someone else in this way. One in four (26%) has been called a
slut, and nearly four in 10 (39%) have called someone else a slut. Nearly
half (46%) of those who have called someone a slut regret it, as do 41% of
those who have teased others for not having enough sexual experience.
What senior teen girls think others are doing may be another source of
pressure. For example, two-thirds of senior girls (66%) believe that most
people in high school are having sex, although in reality, less than half of
high school teens ever have. A sobering 40% of senior girls say one of
the things they are looking forward to in the years immediately after high
school is “less pressure from others.”
Pressure also comes from within, according to 41% of senior girls. Onethird (32%) say that they don’ t want to feel like the only one who isn’t
sexually experienced, and 28% say they simply want to be more sexually
experienced than they already are. When asked what they would change
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photo © SNAP!
about their romantic lives in high school, 26% of 12th grade girls say they
wish they hadn’t judged themselves so harshly based on their sexual
experience. Among those who have had sex, more than half (51%) say
they put pressure on themselves to be sexually experienced. More than
one-quarter (27%) of those who have had sex say if they could change
something about their first time they wouldn’t have put so much pressure
on themselves “to get it over with.”
Fewer than four in 10 senior girls (39%) say the pressure to be sexually
experienced comes from boys “who try to talk you into it.” Even so, an
appreciable minority of senior girls who have had sex (22%) say they were
pressured into it the first time. More than half (58%) who have “hooked
up with someone in the hopes that it would turn into something more”
regret doing so.
Taking all of this experience into consideration, there are a few things most
senior girls can agree on when it comes to giving advice to their younger
peers: seven in 10 senior girls (70%) encourage younger high school girls
to “set boundaries for yourself when it comes to sex and hooking up,” 78%
say not to “worry so much about falling in love, it will happen someday,”
and 82% caution younger peers “not to do something that makes you
uncomfortable just to please a guy.”
First Time Experience
WHICH, IF ANY, OF THE FOLLOWING
ARE TRUE ABOUT THE FIRST TIME
YOU HAD SEX?
Total
Mostly
Good
Mostly
Bad/Equal
Parts Good
and Bad
n=403
n=206
n=197
You used protection
68%
72%
64%
You thought you were ready to have sex
64%
72%
55%
You loved the person you first had sex with
63%
76%
49%
You were self-conscious
50%
44%
56%
It was also your partner’s first time having
sex
42%
51%
32%
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
Those whose first time was “mostly bad” or “equal parts good and bad”
were much more likely than the “mostly good” contingent to report negative feelings at the time they first had sex, as well as upon reflection. But
even among those who consider their first time a positive experience, their
positive feelings have diminished over time. Among all senior girls who
have had sex, feelings of regret have nearly doubled between their first
time and today, and their feelings of maturity in relation to that first time
have diminished.
First Time Experience
THE FIRST TIME
Not everyone feels good about their first sexual experience but being in
love and using contraception seem to be key factors for those whose first
time was more positive. More than three-quarters (76%) of girls who said
their first time was “mostly good,” also say they loved the person they first
had sex with. Among those whose first time was “mostly bad” or “equal
parts good and bad,” less than half (49%) say they loved their first partner. Similarly, 72% of those who said their first time was “mostly good”
used protection. More than half (51%) of girls who said their first time
was “mostly good” had sex for the first time with someone for whom it
was also the first time. Among those who said their first time was “mostly
bad” or “equal parts good and bad,” only 32% had a partner who was a
virgin too.
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Total
Mostly
Good
Mostly
Bad/Equal
Parts Good
and Bad
n=403
n=206
n=197
Happy
66%
80%
52%
Loved
65%
79%
50%
Mature
52%
57%
48%
Negative Feelings (Any)
53%
37%
69%
» Confused
40%
28%
53%
» Numb
28%
21%
36%
» Regretful
20%
14%
27%
» Sad
20%
12%
28%
FEELINGS AT THE TIME YOU FIRST
HAD SEX
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
10
First Time Experience
FEELINGS NOW ABOUT THE FIRST TIME
Total
Mostly
Good
Mostly
Bad/Equal
Parts Good
and Bad
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
n=206
n=197
Happy
50%
67%
33%
Loved
47%
62%
32%
Mature
46%
51%
42%
Negative Feelings (Any)
42%
26%
60%
» Regretful
35%
20%
50%
» Sad
23%
12%
35%
» Numb
16%
11%
21%
» Confused
16%
9%
23%
In retrospect, many senior girls have mixed feelings about the first time
they had sex. Three-quarters of senior girls who have had sex (76%) say
they would change something about the first time if they could. Nearly
half (46%) would have waited longer, and more than half (51%) of those
who felt self-conscious would be less so if they could have a do-over.
One-third (33%) wish they would have done it with a different guy, nearly
one-third (31%) would have allowed themselves to enjoy it more, and
more than one-quarter of senior girls who have had sex (27%) say they
wouldn’t have put so much pressure on themselves the first time. In addition, nearly one in four (22%) say they were pressured into doing it the
first time.
Given their own feelings about having sex, it is not surprising that 84%
of senior girls—especially those who have already had sex (87%)—want
younger girls to know that it’s okay to be a virgin when they graduate from
high school. In addition, more than three out of four 12th grade girls who
have already had sex (77%) say it’s important for younger girls to know
that it’s normal to be nervous the first time. Nearly as many (74%) think
it’s important to be in love with someone you have sex with.
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photo © Stephen Jeter
CONTRACEPTION AND PREVENTION
Contraception isn’t necessarily mysterious to senior girls—most in our survey (62%) say they learned about it during sex education at school, nearly
four in 10 (35%) say they have talked about it with a parent, and about
one-third (30%) report that they have discussed it with a doctor or nurse.
But conversation alone isn’t enough. Among those who have already had
sex, 58% have done so without protection and 43% say they’ve had a
pregnancy scare. Nearly half of senior girls (49%)—virgins included—say
they’ve had a friend experience a pregnancy scare.
WHICH, IF ANY, OF THE FOLLOWING ARE REASONS YOU DIDN’T USE
PROTECTION OR CONTRACEPTION DURING A PAST SEXUAL EXPERIENCE?
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD UNPROTECTED SEX OR DON’T
USE PROTECTION EVERY TIME}
n=280
You just got caught up in the moment
53%
Neither of you planned on having sex, so you didn’t have protection
40%
You meant to, but you forgot
24%
You didn’t want to go to a doctor to get birth control
20%
You didn’t think you would get pregnant because you hadn’t gotten
pregnant from unprotected sex so far
20%
You didn’t want to ruin the moment by bringing up the topic of using
protection
20%
What are the most common explanations senior girls give for having
unprotected sex? The top three reasons all have one thing in common:
things “just happened.” More than half (53%) of those who have had
unprotected sex say they “just got caught up in the heat of the moment.”
Other common explanations include “we didn’t plan on having sex so we
didn’t have protection” (40%), and “I meant to but forgot” (24%). Several
other more specific reasons—such as fear of side effects, being too embarrassed to talk about it with your partner, being afraid parents would find
out, and not being able to afford it—were each cited by fewer than one in
five respondents. Only 11% said they had unprotected sex because their
partner refused to use a condom.
You were afraid your parents would find out if you used birth control
19%
Partner (Any)
16%
What are the most common explanations senior girls give for using
contraception? Nearly nine out of 10 (87%) who use contraception do
so because they don’t want to get pregnant. Two-thirds (66%) use it
because they don’t want to disappoint their parents by getting pregnant.
Among those who have already discussed these issues with their parents,
72% say not wanting to disappoint their parents is a motivating factor.
Other drivers of contraceptive use include having a partner who supports
the decision to use it (55%), fear of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
So while 12th grade girls may be familiar with the concept of birth control, they don’t always put that knowledge to good use. Less than half of
sexually active senior girls (45%) say they use contraception or protection
every time. Nearly one out of four (22%) say they use protection rarely
or never. More than half (55%) have relied on withdrawal as a way to
prevent pregnancy—not surprisingly, that number is higher (69%) among
girls who have had pregnancy scares.
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(54%), friends’ pregnancy scares (38%), their own pregnancy scares
(25%), and something they read in a magazine or saw on TV (21%).
These findings underscore the notion that messages about the importance
of using contraception need to come from everywhere: parents, partners,
friends, and the media.
» Your partner refused to wear a condom
11%
» Your partner pressured you not to use protection
9%
Getting it was too embarrassing
14%
You’re afraid of the side effects of birth control
13%
It was too embarrassing to talk about with your partner
13%
You were between methods (Example: You’ve stopped taking the pill
but haven’t started using something else yet)
11%
You didn’t think you could get pregnant because it was the first time
you had sex
7%
Neither of you could afford it
6%
A full two-thirds of senior girls (66%) believe there are more birth control
methods out there than they personally know about, and 42% say they
wish they knew more. Importantly, those who have talked about contraception with a parent or health care professional in the past are more likely
to be curious about other methods.
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PARENTS
Despite what many moms and dads may think, teenage girls want to communicate with their parents about important personal issues. More than
half of 12th grade girls (53%) said that during their high school years they
wanted to be able to talk to their parents about love and relationships.
Nearly four in 10 (39%) wanted to be able to talk with their parents about
sex, and 38% wanted their parents’ help in getting birth control.
As they look ahead to the years immediately after high school, those
numbers remain largely unchanged. Half (50%) still want to talk to their
parents about love and relationships, and 40% still want their help in
getting birth control. Forty percent say they want to be able to talk about
sex with their parents once they’re out of high school. This debunks the
myth that so many parents believe: that the older their teens are, the less
parents matter. Less than one-third (32%) say they don’t want to talk to
their parents about any of these topics in the future.
WHICH, IF ANY, OF THE FOLLOWING DID YOU WANT FROM YOUR PARENTS
THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, AND WHICH, IF ANY DO YOU THINK YOU’LL
WANT FROM YOUR PARENTS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
I wanted this
from them in
high school
I want this from
them over the
next few years
To be able to talk with them about love and
relationships
53%
50%
To be able to talk with them about sex
39%
40%
For them to help me get birth control
38%
40%
To be able to talk with them about how to
prevent pregnancy
36%
36%
None of these
34%
32%
Of course this doesn’t mean those parent-teen conversations are always
easy or truthful. Nearly three out of four senior girls (72%) who have had
sex say they’ve lied to their parents about their sex life, though 38% of
them say they regret doing so.
15
photo © SNAP!
Results from this survey make clear that senior girls are quite mindful of
what their parents think about them and that the quality and quantity of
parent-teen conversations matter. Two-thirds of those who use contraception (66%) say they do so because they don’t want to disappoint their
parents by getting pregnant. Among those girls who have not had sex
yet, one in five (19%) say they are waiting because they are afraid of their
parents finding out.
Senior girls who have talked to their parents about delaying sex or using
contraception seem to have healthier, more confident attitudes about sex
and relationships in general. They are more likely to say they have the
right to change their minds about hooking up even if it means stopping the
action, more likely to be comfortable saying no to sex, more likely to say
it’s important to be in love with someone you are intimate with, and are
more likely to be confident and curious about pregnancy prevention.
Total
Talked to
Parents about
Waiting or
Birth Control
Have NOT
Talked to
Parents about
Waiting or
Birth Control
n= 1,200
n=625
n = 575
I have the right to change my mind
about a hook up, even if it means stopping the action
86%
92%
79%
I would be completely comfortable
saying no to sex, even if the person I
was hooking up with really wanted to
78%
82%
73%
It’s important to be in love with someone you have sex with
74%
81%
67%
I would be completely comfortable
saying no to sex, even if I’ve already
had sex with that person previously
70%
77%
62%
There are more birth control methods
out there than I know about right now
66%
71%
60%
I believe the right birth control for me
is out there
64%
73%
56%
I wish I knew more about all the various kinds of birth control
42%
45%
38%
THOSE WHO AGREE WITH
THE FOLLOWING
17
photo © SNAP!
Those who have talked to their parents about delaying sex or using contraception when they do have sex are far more likely than those who haven’t
to encourage younger girls to do the same. More than three out of four
(76%) senior girls who have had conversations about these topics with
their parents say it’s important for younger teen girls to not be afraid of
talking to their parents.
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
There is a lot of exploration during high school—new friends, new relationships, new experiences—and by the end of senior year most girls wish
they’d done a few things differently, both in private and in public. For
example, nearly half (47%) of senior girls say they wish they’d been more
confident around guys. Most (71%) senior girls who have had sex with
someone they didn’t love wish they hadn’t. More than eight out of 10
(81%) who have ever cheated on someone are upset that they did.
Regarding a more public matter, of the 21% of senior girls who have ever
sent nude photos or videos of themselves to someone else, more than six
in 10 (61%) wish they hadn’t. The reasons senior girls give for sending
such material in the first place speaks to the pressures some experience
in high school. For example, 37% of those who have send a nude photo/
video of themselves or a photo/video in which a private part was exposed
say they did so because someone was pressuring them to do it. However,
nearly as many (36%) say they don’t see anything wrong with it.
REASONS FOR SENDING NUDE PHOTOS/VIDEOS OF YOURSELF OR PHOTOS/
VIDEOS IN WHICH A PRIVATE PART WAS EXPOSED
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE SENT NUDE/STRIPTEASE/EXPOSED
PHOTO/VIDEO}
19
n=253
You were responding to someone sending you a nude photo/video of
themselves or photos/videos in which a private part was exposed
45%
You thought it would make the person like you more
39%
The person you sent it to was pressuring you to do it
37%
You don’t see any problems with sending someone nude photos/videos of yourself or photos/videos in which a private part is exposed
36%
You wanted to have sex with the person
31%
It’s a harmless way to flirt
28%
Everyone does it
15%
Senior girls have high hopes for their post-high school social lives. Two out
of three (65%) are looking forward to having more freedom, and nearly as
many (63%) envision a serious relationship in the years immediately after
high school. Six out of 10 (61%) are looking forward to falling in love and
more than half (55%) are excited to meet different types of guys than they
did in high school. Among girls who have already had sex, more than half
(53%) are looking forward to having sex with someone they really love.
IN CONCLUSION
At this critical point in their lives—on the verge of adulthood but not quite
yet out of the nest—senior girls’ attitudes and experiences point to the
need for thoughtful consideration when it comes to sex, contraception,
and personal relationships. For those pursuing sexual relationships, these
survey results underscore the importance of being with someone they
love and not going further than they really want to, no matter what kind
of pressure they feel. For parents, the important take-away is knowing
that their daughters really do want to hear from them and they don’t stop
needing or wanting parental guidance once they leave high school. For
younger teen girls, it is helpful to hear seniors’ advice: take things slowly
and believe in yourself.
It is our hope that girls starting their senior year this fall (and younger
high school girls as well) will try answering some of these questions for
themselves. We encourage them to take the time to consider what they’ve
seen, what they’ve done, and what they’ve learned, so that those experiences can inform their lives and relationships from here on out.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Kramer is the Senior Director of Entertainment Media for The
National Campaign.
20
NIO
WHAT SE
O KNOW
T
U
O
Y
T
AN
R GIRLS W
We asked 12th grade girls all about their feelings and experiences with sex, love, and
relationships. This is what they think younger girls need to know:
1. It’s okay to wait. Nearly nine out of 10 senior girls who have already had sex say
younger girls should know that it’s okay to be a virgin when you graduate. More than
four out of 10 girls who have already had sex say they wish they’d waited longer.
Feeling pressure to ‘get it over with’ before you finish high school? Senior girls say:
don’t let that sway you.
2. Use protection every single time. No excuses! More than 40% of girls we talked
to who have already had sex have also had a pregnancy scare. 53% of senior girls
who’ve had sex without protection say that they just “got caught up in the moment.”
3. Don’t do something that makes you uncomfortable just to please a guy. Most girls
who have gone further in a hookup situation than they wanted to wish they hadn’t.
4. Don’t have sex with someone you don’t love, and don’t have sex with someone who
doesn’t love you back. Most girls who’ve done this regret it.
5. You can say no, even if you’ve said yes before. Eight out of 10 girls who have already
had sex think it’s important for you to know this.
6. Don’t worry so much about trying to impress boys and don’t stress about falling in
love. It will happen. It’s also important to have guys you are just friends with.
7. It’s better to break up than stay in a relationship that’s bad for you. More than half
of senior girls have been in love, but for those who haven’t, there’s plenty of time to
fall in love after high school, and 61% say that’s one thing they look forward to. There
are almost as many girls who say they wish they hadn’t wasted so much time in a
relationship as there are girls who wish they’d had a relationship in the first place.
8. Don’t be afraid to talk to your parents about personal stuff. 33% of senior girls say
they’ve lied to their parents about their sex lives, and four out of 10 regret that. No
matter how awkward it can get, your parents can have good insights to share and can
really help you find your way through complicated relationships.
9. Believe in yourself! Looking back on their high school social lives, many girls wish
they’d been more confident. In fact, having more confidence in themselves is the #1
thing senior girls are looking forward to after graduation.
10. Lay off the pressure. The majority of 12th grade girls say the pressure to be sexually experienced comes not from guys but from their friends. Friends who tease each
other about sex—whether it’s for having too much of it or not enough—add to the
pressure and often regret it later. Your sex life is your business and your comfort
level with it is what’s most important.
photo © Stephen Jeter
GHTERS
TO HEL
O
D
N
A
C
U
WHAT YO
EEN DAU
P YOUR T
1. Talk to your daughters about love, sex, and how to tell the difference. Talk
openly about heartbreak and how to avoid it—and how to recover—because by
the time they graduate, 60% of high school girls say they’ve had their hearts
broken. Talk about relationships, and what good and bad ones look like. Talk
about protecting their feelings and protecting their bodies. And yes, talk about
sex. You don’t need to be a biology expert. You just need to know that what you
say and how you say it matters when they are freshmen and still matters senior
year and beyond.
2. Don’t let the conversation stop when your daughters leave high school. Girls
who are about to graduate say that they want to hear from their parents on
issues of love and relationships just as much after high school as they did while
still in high school. And 40% of 12th grade girls say they still want their parents’
help in getting birth control after high school. Keep talking. Even if they act like
they don’t want to hear from you, even if you feel like you’ve said it all before.
You don’t matter less just because your teens are growing up.
3. Talk openly about contraception. Even if you don’t have all the answers, it’s
important for your daughters to know how you feel about too-early pregnancy
and parenthood, and how to prevent it. Girls who have spoken to their parents
about these issues are more likely to have healthier, more confident attitudes
about sex and relationships. What you say has a real impact: two-thirds of 12th
grade girls who use contraception say they do so because they don’t want to
disappoint their parents by getting pregnant. Among those who have not yet
had sex, one in five say they are waiting specifically because they don’t want
their parents to find out that they are having sex.
4. Encourage your daughter to use contraception if she is having sex. Many girls
forgo protection because they don’t want their parents to find out. As challenging as it may be to come to terms with your daughter having sex and using birth
control, it will be much more difficult to find out she’s pregnant.
5. Show some love for waiting. The 12th grade girls who answered our survey
were loud and clear that sex can wait. Many of those who have had already
had sex admit that rushing into it is something they regret. If your daughter
isn’t sure whether she’s ready for sex or even how to tell, help her feel confident
enough to wait. 43% of girls who have had sex say they wish they’d waited
longer. Tell your daughter she can always say no—even if she’s said yes before.
6. Help your daughters feel confident. You can’t do this for them, but you can
help them pursue opportunities that build self-esteem. Nearly half of all 12th
grade girls wish they’d been more confident in their romantic lives in high
school. Two out of three say they look forward to feeling more confident in the
years immediately after they graduate.
photo © Stephen Jeter
photo © SNAP!
METHODOLOGY
Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? Please check ONE.
TRU conducted a total of 1,200 online interviews among 12th grade high school
girls, yielding a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points. The interviews
were conducted from April 6th through April 21st 2012. Quotas were set to
include a minimum of 15% Hispanic and 15% African-American respondents
to ensure ethnic representation. In addition, survey invitations were dispersed
nationally according to U.S. Census figures to maintain a representative mix of
respondents.
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
Straight/Heterosexual
83%
Bisexual
11%
Gay/Lesbian/Homosexual
2%
Other
1%
Not sure
2%
Prefer not to answer
2%
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES
Which, if any, of the following have you ever done? Please check all that apply.
Are you?
{AMONG TOTAL}
Female
n=1,200
100%
How old are you? _________ Years
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
Kissed someone
77%
Made out with someone
63%
Masturbated
41%
Oral Sex (Any)
» Given oral sex
38%
» Received oral sex
33%
33%
17
42%
Had sexual intercourse with someone
34%
18
54%
None of these
17%
19
4%
Which of the following best describes your current year in school?
Which, if any, of the following have you ever done? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
{AMONG TOTAL}
12th grade in high school
n=1,200
100%
Do you consider yourself…? {ALLOW MULTIPLE RESPONSES}
{AMONG TOTAL}
27
n=1,200
Had a crush on someone
n=1,200
88%
Gone on a date with someone
71%
Had your heart broken
60%
Been in love
58%
Had a serious relationship with someone
56%
Casually dated someone
51%
Hooked up (Any)
» Hooked up with someone
35%
White
61%
African American
15%
Hispanic or Latino
15%
Asian or Pacific Islander
13%
Had a “friend with benefits”
24%
Native American or Alaskan Native
3%
Hooked up with a girl
11%
Other race
3%
None of these
4%
» Repeatedly hooked up with someone you weren’t in
a relationship with
33%
20%
28
Which, if any, of the following have you ever done or experienced? Please
check all that apply.
Which, if any, of the following have you ever done? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Had unprotected sex
58%
62%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone and
kept it a secret from your friends
55%
Personally known another teenager who got pregnant or was a teen
mom
64%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone in
hopes that it would turn into something more
48%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone and
regretted it afterwards
59%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Had sex with someone you didn’t
love
43%
Talk to Parents (Any)
52%
Called someone a slut
39%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone when
you were drunk or high
36%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up in private with
someone you barely talk to in public
35%
Lied to your parents about your sex life
33%
Learned about abstinence during sex ed at school
67%
Learned about contraception during sex ed at school
» Talked with your parent about waiting to have sex
39%
» Talked about contraception with your parent
35%
Had a friend who had a pregnancy scare
49%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Had a pregnancy scare
43%
Watched Porn (Any)
38%
» Watched porn by yourself
35%
Exchanged sexually-explicit texts with a guy
33%
» Watched porn with a guy
12%
27%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Had a serious relationship that
started with a hookup
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Had sex with someone you loved
but who didn’t love you back
37%
Stopped a hook-up because you didn’t feel comfortable
25%
Been cheated on
34%
22%
Teased (Any)
33%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone after
you received a “booty call” from them
Photo or Video (Any)
21%
» Been teased about your lack of sexual experience
28%
» Been teased for being too sexually experienced
9%
Plan B (Any)
29
n=1,200
30%
» Sent someone a nude photo of yourself or a photo of yourself in
which a private body part was exposed
» Sent someone a striptease video of yourself or a video of yourself
in which a private body part was exposed
20%
7%
» Had a friend who used Plan B/”morning after pill” to avoid
pregnancy
28%
» {OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Used Plan B/”morning after pill”
to avoid pregnancy
22%
» Teased someone else for being too sexually experienced
16%
Talked about contraception with a doctor/nurse
30%
» Teased someone else for their lack of sexual experience
10%
Been called a slut
26%
Went further than you wanted to in a hook-up situation
18%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} Been pregnant
11%
Made the first move in a hook-up situation
18%
None of these
6%
Cheated on someone
16%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HOOKED UP} Hooked up with someone you
initially met online
16%
None of these
30%
Teased (Any)
20%
30
{ASK IF ANY SELECTED} For each of the following that you’ve done, which,
if any, have you ever regretted doing afterwards? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING}
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
Younger than 13
2%
13
4%
14
13%
15
21%
16
31%
17
22%
18
7%
50%
19
1%
Lied to your parents about your sex life
39%
Mean
Had unprotected sex
60%
Had sex with someone you didn’t love
71%
Hooked up with someone in hopes that it would turn into something
more
58%
Teased (Any)
40%
Called someone a slut
46%
Went further than you wanted to in a hook-up situation
79%
Exchanged sexually-explicit texts with a guy
41%
Cheated on someone
81%
Photo/Video (Any)
61%
» Sent someone a nude photo of yourself or a photo of yourself in
which a private body part was exposed
» Sent someone a striptease video of yourself or a video of yourself
in which a private body part was exposed
31
Base sizes
vary
{ASK IF HAD SEX } How old were you when you had sexual intercourse for
the first time?
59%
» Teased someone else for being too sexually experienced
37%
» Teased someone else for their lack of sexual experience
41%
Had sex with someone you loved but who didn’t love you back
78%
Hooked up in private with someone you barely talk to in public
60%
Hooked up with someone when you were drunk or high
56%
Hooked up with someone and kept it a secret from your friends
37%
Hooked up with someone after you received a “booty call” from them
70%
Made the first move in a hook-up situation
25%
Stopped a hook-up because you didn’t feel comfortable
15%
Hooked up with someone you initially met online
52%
15.67
{ASK IF HAD SEX} With whom did you first have sexual intercourse? Please
check ONE.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
Your boyfriend
72%
A guy friend
11%
A guy you had been casually hooking up with
7%
A random guy you had never hooked up with before
4%
Other
5%
32
{ASK IF HAD SEX} Which, if any, of the following are true about the FIRST
TIME you had sex? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
You used protection
68%
You thought you were ready to have sex
64%
You loved the person you first had sex with
63%
You were self-conscious
50%
You thought the person you first had sex with loved you
49%
It was also your partner’s first time having sex
42%
You told people afterwards
41%
You didn’t think you were ready to have sex
23%
You were pressured into doing it
22%
Drinking/Drugs (Any)
9%
» He had been drinking/using drugs
8%
» You had been drinking/using drugs
6%
It happened against your will
5%
None of these are true about the first time you had sex
2%
{ASK IF HAD SEX} Think back to the first time you had sex. In the first
column, please check the words that describe how you felt about it AT THE
TIME. In the second column, please check the words that describe how you
feel about it NOW. Please check all words that apply for each column.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
Feelings
AT THE TIME
Feelings
NOW
Happy
66%
50%
Loved
65%
47%
Mature
52%
46%
Embarrassed
42%
24%
Confused
40%
16%
It wasn’t a big deal
38%
40%
Relieved
35%
27%
Numb
28%
16%
Regretful
20%
35%
Sad
20%
23%
3%
5%
None of these
{ASK IF HAD SEX} How would you describe the first time you had sex?
Please check ONE.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
33
n=403
Mostly a good experience
51%
Mostly a bad experience
17%
An equally good and bad experience
32%
34
{ASK IF HAD SEX} If you could re-do the first time you had sex, which, if
any, of the following would you do differently? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
{OF THOSE WHO WERE SELF-CONSCIOUS} You would have been
less self-conscious
51%
{OF THOSE WHO DIDN’T LOVE THE PERSON} You would have
done it with someone you loved
50%
You would have waited longer to have sex
46%
You would have done it with a different guy
33%
{OF THOSE WHO DIDN’T USE PROTECTION} You would have used
protection
33%
You would have allowed yourself to enjoy it more
31%
You wouldn’t have put so much pressure on yourself to get it over
with
27%
{OF THOSE WHO DID IT WITH PERSON WHO DIDN’T LOVE
THEM} You would have done it with someone who loved you
26%
{OF THOSE WHO TOLD PEOPLE} You wouldn’t have told so many
people
14%
{OF THOSE WHO DID IT WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS DRINKING/
USING DRUGS} You wish he would have been sober
3%
{OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN DRINKING/USING DRUGS} You
would have been sober
{ASK IF HAD SEX} Have you ever used withdrawal or “pulling out” as a way
to prevent pregnancy?
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
n=403
Yes
55%
No
39%
Don’t know/Don’t remember
5%
{ASK IF USED PROTECTION} Which, if any, of the following has influenced
your decision to use contraception? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO USE PROTECTION}
n=355
You don’t want to get pregnant right now
87%
You don’t want to disappoint your parents by getting pregnant
66%
Your partner supported your decision to use contraception
55%
Fear of STDs
54%
{OF THOSE WHOSE FRIEND HAD PREVIOUS PREGNANCY OR
SCARE} A friend’s pregnancy or pregnancy scare
38%
Talking to your friends about how important it is
27%
3%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD PREVIOUS PREGNANCY OR SCARE}
Your past pregnancy or pregnancy scare
25%
Other
5%
Something you read about in a magazine or saw on TV
21%
You wouldn’t change a thing
24%
Something else
10%
{ASK IF HAD SEX} How often do you use contraception when you have sex?
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD SEX}
35
n=403
Every time
45%
Most times
23%
About half the time
10%
Rarely
10%
Never
12%
36
{ASK IF HAD UNPROTECTED SEX OR IF DON’T USE CONTRACEPTION
EVERY TIME} Which, if any, of the following are reasons you didn’t use
protection or contraception during a past sexual experience? Please check all
that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD UNPROTECTED SEX OR DON’T
USE PROTECTION EVERY TIME}
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
How effective it is
18%
You just got caught up in the moment
53%
Side effects
14%
Neither of you planned on having sex, so you didn’t have protection
40%
Where and how to get it
9%
You meant to, but you forgot
24%
Being happy about it
9%
You didn’t want to go to a doctor to get birth control
20%
How to use it properly
7%
You didn’t think you would get pregnant because you hadn’t gotten
pregnant from unprotected sex so far
20%
How confusing it is
3%
How much it costs
3%
You didn’t want to ruin the moment by bringing up the topic of using
protection
20%
Other/Something else
9%
You were afraid your parents would find out if you used birth control
19%
You never talk about birth control with your friends
28%
Partner (Any)
16%
» Your partner refused to wear a condom
11%
» Your partner pressured you not to use protection
9%
Getting it was too embarrassing
14%
You’re afraid of the side effects of birth control
13%
It was too embarrassing to talk about with your partner
13%
You were between methods (example: You’ve stopped taking the pill
but haven’t started using something else yet)
If celebrities you like talked positively about birth control/contraception,
which, if any, of the following would be true for you? Please check all that
apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
You would be interested in what they have to say
26%
11%
It would make you more likely to think about your own
birth control options
22%
You didn’t think you could get pregnant because it was the first time
you had sex
7%
It would make you more likely to talk openly about your
own birth control
18%
Neither of you could afford it
6%
It would irritate you
11%
You’re not convinced that birth control even works
6%
It would make no difference to you
51%
Birth control is against your religion
2%
None of these
37
n=280
When you and your friends talk about birth control or contraception, what
do you talk about MOST? Even if you talk about all of these things, please
choose the one you talk about most often. Please check ONE.
20%
38
{ASK IF SENT NUDE OR EXPOSED PHOTOS OR VIDEOS} Which, if any,
of the following are reasons you’ve sent someone nude photos/videos of
yourself or photos/videos of yourself in which a private part was exposed?
Please check all that apply.
39
{ASK IF HAVE NOT HAD SEX} Which, if any, of the following are reasons
you have not had sex yet? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD SEX}
n=797
You want to avoid pregnancy
57%
You just don’t feel ready to have sex yet
55%
You want to avoid STDs
48%
You haven’t been involved with anyone you wanted to have sex with
45%
39%
You want to wait until you’re married
45%
38%
Religious or moral beliefs
40%
» The person you sent it to was pressuring you to do it
37%
You want to wait until after high school
34%
» Your friends were pressuring you to do it
4%
You haven’t had the opportunity
28%
You’re afraid your parents will find out
19%
Your boyfriend wants to wait to have sex
6%
None of these
5%
{AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE SENT NUDE/STRIPTEASE/EXPOSED
PHOTO/VIDEO}
n=253
You were responding to a someone sending you a nude photo/video
of themselves or photos/videos in which a private part was exposed
45%
You thought it would make the person like you more
Pressure (Any)
You don’t see any problem with sending someone nude photos/
videos of yourself or photos/videos in which a private part is exposed
36%
You wanted to have sex with the person
31%
It’s a harmless way to flirt
28%
Everyone does it
15%
You were bribed to do it
9%
You did it as a joke
8%
You thought it would make you more popular
6%
{AMONG THOSE WHO WENT FURTHER THAN WANTED IN
HOOK UP}
You were drunk or high
6%
You just got caught up in the moment
67%
Celebrities do it
4%
You weren’t really sure what you wanted
60%
You were threatened if you didn’t do it
4%
It went faster than you expected
56%
No real reason
8%
You wanted to be in a relationship with that person
39%
You just didn’t feel comfortable saying you wanted to stop
38%
You worried that the person you were hooking up with would be
upset if you didn’t go through with it
34%
You tried to stop, but the other person kept going
31%
You didn’t want them to think you were uncool or inexperienced
24%
You just wanted to get it over with
23%
You were drunk or high
22%
You thought the person would break up with you if you didn’t go
through with it
16%
None of these
1%
{ASK IF WENT FURTHER THAN WANTED IN HOOKUP} Which, if any, of
the following are reasons you have gone further in a hook-up situation than
you initially wanted to? Please check all that apply.
n=220
40
Do you agree or disagree with each of the following?
{AMONG TOTAL}
Where does the pressure to be sexually-experienced in high school come
from? Please check all that apply.
n=1,200
Agree
41
I have the right to change my mind about a hook up, even if it means
stopping the action
86%
I would be completely comfortable saying no to sex, even if the
person I was hooking up with really wanted to
78%
{AMONG TOTAL}
Friends (Any)
» From friends who talk about their own sexual experiences
» From friends who tease you about it
It’s important to be in love with someone you have sex with
74%
I would be completely comfortable saying no to sex, even if I’ve
already had sex with the person previously
70%
Most people in high school are having sex
66%
There are more birth control methods out there than I know about
right now
66%
I believe that the right birth control for me is out there
64%
I know everything I need to know about preventing pregnancy
52%
I wish I knew more about all of the various kinds of birth control
42%
If TV shows or movies I liked treated birth control/contraception as
a normal part of a sexual relationship, it would help me think more
about my own birth control options
37%
If more people talked openly about the birth control methods they
use, I would be more comfortable using birth control
34%
It doesn’t really matter whether you use birth control or not, when it’s
your time to get pregnant, it will happen
24%
n=1,200
52%
47%
26%
From what you hear about what other teenagers are doing
51%
From seeing what happens in TV and movies
45%
Yourself (Any)
» From yourself - You don’t want to feel like the only one who isn’t
sexually experienced
» From yourself - You want to be more sexually experienced
41%
28%
From guys who try to talk you into it
39%
There isn’t any pressure to be sexually experienced in high school
21%
32%
Which of the following pieces of advice do you think are important for
younger high school girls? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
It’s ok to be a virgin when you graduate
84%
Don’t do something that makes you uncomfortable just to please a
guy
82%
Don’t stress out about falling in love; it will happen someday
78%
It’s better to break up than to stay in a relationship that’s bad for you
78%
Don’t worry so much about trying to impress boys
78%
Set boundaries for yourself when it comes to sex and hooking up
70%
I’ve been in a hook-up situation where the guy made me feel bad
about myself
19%
It’s embarrassing for a girl to be a virgin in high school
12%
69%
Withdrawal, or pulling out, is about as effective as other methods of
contraception
You don’t have to have sex with someone just because you’ve done it
before
12%
Don’t be afraid to talk to your parents about personal stuff
62%
Guys should have sex for the first time before they go to college
9%
It’s normal to be nervous about your first time
59%
It’s really important to have guys that you’re just friends with
54%
Girls should have sex for the first time before they go to college
8%
Having sex with someone does not make you a slut
47%
It’s best to wait until after high school to have sex
42%
Sex can be a good part of a relationship
29%
Sex and hooking up is ok as long as you use protection
23%
Sex and hooking up is normal for teenagers
13%
Sex and hooking up is fun
9%
None of these are important
4%
42
Looking back, what would you change about your romantic life in high school
if you could? Please check all that apply.
43
Which, if any, of the following do you look forward to in the years
immediately after high school? Please check all that apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
Relationship (Any)
50%
More confidence in yourself
68%
» You wish you’d had a serious relationship
28%
More freedom to do what you want to do
65%
» You wish you hadn’t wasted so much time on a relationship
25%
A serious relationship
63%
» You wish you hadn’t wasted so much time looking for a serious
relationship
23%
Falling in love
61%
Meeting different types of guys than you did in high school
55%
Less judgment from others
43%
You wish you’d been more confident around guys
47%
You wish you hadn’t judged yourself so harshly based on your own
sexual experience or lack of sexual experience
26%
Less pressure from others
40%
You wish you hadn’t cared so much about a guy’s popularity or status
21%
More guys to choose from
40%
You wish you hadn’t judged others so harshly based on their sexual
experience or lack of sexual experience
15%
Having sex with someone you really love
39%
{OF THOSE WHO’VE HAD SEX} You wish you hadn’t had sex so
soon
For casual hook ups to be more accepted
11%
43%
More hook ups
9%
You wish you would have spoken up about your limits before a hook
up took place
14%
None of these
6%
You wish you’d been less focused on hooking up
14%
You wish you would have hooked up less
11%
You wish you would have hooked up more
10%
You wish you’d had sex sooner
5%
Other/Something else
13%
You wouldn’t change anything about your romantic life in high school
24%
Which, if any, of the following did you want from your parents throughout
high school, and which, if any, do you think you’ll want from your parents
over the next few years? Please check all that apply for each column.
{AMONG TOTAL}
n=1,200
I wanted this
from them in
high school
I want this from
them over the
next few years
To be able to talk with them about love and
relationships
53%
50%
To be able to talk with them about sex
39%
40%
For them to help me get birth control
38%
40%
To be able to talk with them about how to
prevent pregnancy
36%
36%
None of these
34%
32%
44
Which, if any, of the following TV shows have you ever watched? Please
check all that apply.
{AMONG TOTAL}
What’s the highest level of education your mom and/or dad has completed?
n=1,200
n=1,200
16 & Pregnant
66%
Teen Mom
32%
None of these
30%
{ASK IF WATCH ANY SHOW } Which best describes the effect these shows
have on you? Please check ONE.
{AMONG THOSE WHO WATCH SHOW}
n=846
They help motivate you to delay pregnancy and parenthood
72%
They make you want to have a baby as a teen
8%
Neither
20%
Mom
Dad
Less than High School
8%
10%
High school
20%
20%
GED
6%
5%
Some college
16%
18%
2-year college degree
11%
7%
4-year college degree
23%
19%
Advanced degree
14%
16%
Not applicable
3%
6%
What’s your zip code at home? __________________
DEMOGRAPHICS
Do you live in the same household as your father?
n=1,200
n=1,200
Northeast
22%
Yes
70%
Midwest
24%
No
30%
South
31%
West
23%
Which, if any, of the following are you planning to do next year? Please check
all that apply.
n=1,200
45
Enroll full-time in a 4-year college or university
67%
Work part-time
39%
Enroll full-time at a 2-year school, community college, or other kind of
vocational program
15%
Finish high school classes
14%
Work full-time
8%
Enroll part-time at a 2-year school, community college, or other kind
of vocational program
6%
Enroll part-time in a 4-year college or university
6%
Don’t know
4%
46
photo © Stephen Jeter