Cooperation of Sensoa (Lies Verhetsel) – Ghent University Researcher: Drs. Katrien Symons Promotor: Prof. Dr. Mieke Van Houtte Co-Promotor: Dr. Hans Vermeersch Coordination: Rutgers WPF (the Netherlands) Early first intercourse experience EARA 2012

o 20% of the 14 year olds have experience o Early sexual intercourse often considered a risk for the health and wellbeing of the YP  Why and when is an early FI harmful? Early first intercourse

Method: Qualitative study Personal interviews with ‘early starters’ Conditions o FI at age ≤ 14; voluntarily and heterosexual o At moment of interview 16 to 18 yrs Sample o 24 YP: 8 boys, 16 girls o Age at FI: 18 at 14, 5 at 13, 1 at 11 o 17 were in a relationship; 7 were not in a relationship

Presentation of the results I. Experience of the early first intercourse II. Framing the FI within the sexual trajectory III. Decision making about the FI

I. Experience of the FI Emotions then and now A. Positive emotions B. Ambiguity C. Negative emotions D. Pain and dissappointment

An early FI is not necessarily a negative experience... but for some it is  When is it a bad experience?

II. Determinants A.Sexual trajectory preceding the FI B.Decision making about the FI

A. Sexual trajectory  What other sexual experiences did the early starters have before their FI? 2 trajectories: Accelerated progressive sexual trajectory Non-linear sexual trajectory

Girl, was 14 at FI, after a relationship of 2 months. In total the relationship lasted 3 years. She considered it a good relationship and had a positive FI experience. Afterwards she felt like she was a bit too young. R: Yes, then we had done everything already except sex. […] Yeah, it developed gradually. In the beginning it was just kissing a bit, and touching the breasts, and each other, but not yet really ‘down there’. And then it moved on to other tings, I don’t know how to call it, and so it moved on. Illustration (accelerated progressive trajectory)

Girl, was 14 at FI, with her partner. Afterwards she thought it was a bad relationship because he didn’t respect her and put her under pressure. I: Had you done other things before you had sex? R: No, really just kissing, holding hands, things like that. But the first time that he really touched my body, was then. That was very intimate all of a sudden. Illustration (non-linear sexual trajectory)

B. Decision making  What does the decision making towards the FI look like? 3 important aspects: Was it expected? What were the motives? Was there pressure?

Was it expected? o Never really ‘planned’ (spontaneity!) o Negative experience (~non-linear ST) Surprise, ‘it suddenly happened’ Sometimes ambiguous o Positive experience (~progressive ST) Natural next step (In)direct communication o Everybody Having the opportunity

What were the motives? o Negative experience No real reason, emotional detachment Doing a favor to the other Curiosity o Positive experience The relationship, intimacy Curiosity

Boy, 14 at FI, with a friend. He says that she took the initiative. Afterwards he feels regrets and he says that he has ‘thrown away’ his first time. R: Actually it was... there were no intentions, there was nothing, there were no feelings. So it was just to get it over with, I’ll put it like that. Girl, 14 at FI, after a relationship of 7 months. The relationship lasted for 11 months. She had a positive FI experience. R: We were together for 7 months and actually we wanted to try since longer, because you love each other and that gives kind of an extra dimension to your relationship. So we both were really ready for it. Illustration (motives)

Was there pressure? o Direct pressure + manipulation from the partner Clear association with negative FI experience o Indirect pressure by sexual experience of the partner No association with FI experience o Pressure from friends No association with FI experience / unclear o Spontaneous statements about the lack of pressure Shows the importance of this topic for YP

Girl, 13 at FI, after a relationship of 1 year. Afterwards the relationship lasted 2 months. She didn’t find the relationship serious. R: At first I didn’t like it, I told him ‘come on, we’re both only 13 years, take it slowly, wait until we’re together for a longer time’ and so on. He really didn’t want to and then he was angry with me. And then we fought and I really couldn’t have that, hated it when I had fights with him and so I gave in. Illustration (pressure)

Girl, 14 at FI, after a relationship of 2 months. The relationship lasted for 3 years and she thought it was a good relationship. She had a positive FI experience, but afterwards she felt like she was a bit too young. R: Then he asked me whether I was ready for it and stuff. Then I could say what I thought. I said ‘no’ once, and he didn’t mind. That was actually to test him a bit I think {laughs}. Illustration (lack of pressure)

Conclusion o Early starters are not a homogenous group of young risk takers. Early FI does not necessarily poses a risk for the wellbeing of the YP o Some YP are better able than others to deal with the demands of a good sexual decision making o YP with progressive sexual trajectories have a higher chance of possessing the right skills and attitudes

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