Sexuality in Adolescence

Sexuality in Adolescence: The Digital Generation provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of research and theory about adolescent sexuality in today's world. The book examines biological, social and health-related approaches and reviews qualitative and quantitative research from psychology, sociology, epidemiology and medicine, emphasising the interplay between perspectives and privileging the voices of young people as they discuss the joys and pains of sexual awakening. The focus is on understanding healthy sexual development and its many variations, but problems and issues arising as young people make their journey to adult sexuality are also considered. The book presents global research on many key issues of our time, including the impact of media and technology on adolescent sexuality, changes in adolescent sexual behaviors and beliefs, sexual risk taking, sex education, and teen pregnancy and abortion. This fully revised and updated third edition of Sexuality in Adolescence also addresses the crucial issues of sexual diversity, sexual safety and sexual communication, including coercion, peer pressure and double standards. In Sexuality in Adolescence: The Digital Generation, the authors aim to promote sexual wellbeing, and argue for the importance of the adolescent period as a time for engendering healthy sexual attitudes and practices. This book will be valuable reading for students in the social, behavioural and health sciences who are interested in adolescent development and the topic of sexuality, as well as for professionals working with young people and families.

Meredith Temple-Smith is an Associate Professor and a Director of Research Training in the Melbourne Medical School at The University of Melbourne, Australia. Susan Moore is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia, and Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. Doreen Rosenthal was Founding Director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society and is Emeritus Professor in the Melbourne School of Population Health at The University of Melbourne, Australia.

1. Introducing adolescent sexuality  2. Sexual behaviours and attitudes: What's happening now?  3. Changing brains, changing hormones, changing bodies  4. The social context: parents and peers  5. The social context: sex education, religion and the law  6. Youth culture and the impact of media and technology  7. Gender, sexuality and romance  8. Sexual diversity  9. Sexually transmissible infections: management and consequences  10. Adolescent pregnancy: choices and outcomes  11. Sexual abuse, unwanted sex and sexual safety  12. Perspectives on adolescent sexuality: Two decades of change