Document 0097
 DOCN  M9440097
 TI    A review of sexual behavior in the United States.
 DT    9404
 AU    Seidman SN; Rieder RO; Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians
       and Surgeons,; Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.
 SO    Am J Psychiatry. 1994 Mar;151(3):330-41. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94152714
 AB    OBJECTIVE: Knowledge of sexual behavior in the United States is
       necessary for 1) directing risk-reduction interventions aimed at
       preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other
       sexually transmitted pathogens and 2) appreciating the current normative
       patterns of sexual behavior. METHODS: The authors reviewed American
       surveys that included measures of sexual behavior and analyzed the
       1988-1990 General Social Surveys. RESULTS: Most American males have
       intercourse by 16-17 years of age, and females do so by 17-18 years of
       age. The majority of young adults aged 18-24 have multiple, serial sex
       partners. Among adults 25-59 years old, relative monogamy appears to be
       the norm: 80% of heterosexually active men and 90% of heterosexually
       active women in this age group report having had only one sex partner in
       the preceding year. The average frequency of intercourse among such
       monogamous individuals is one to three times per week. Approximately 25%
       of adults have had heterosexual anal intercourse. Up to 20% of adult men
       report that they have had a homosexual experience; 1%-6% report such an
       experience during the preceding year. CONCLUSIONS: Through accumulated
       studies, data are now available on normative sexual behavior across the
       life cycle. Such data should assist in psychiatric diagnosis and in the
       development of treatment goals that rely on assumptions regarding
       normative behavior. A large proportion of young heterosexual persons are
       at considerable risk for sexually transmitted disease. Sexual history
       taking and risk-reduction counseling should be integral components of
       psychiatric care.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Age Factors  Cross-Sectional Studies  Female
       Homosexuality/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Human  HIV Infections/PREVENTION
       & CONTROL  Life Change Events  Male  Middle Age  Prevalence  Risk
       Factors  *Sex Behavior/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Sex Factors  Sexual
       Partners  Sexually Transmitted Diseases/EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY  United
       States/EPIDEMIOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE  REVIEW  REVIEW, TUTORIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).