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Kim: Effects of Sexual Intercourse on Suicidal Behaviors among Adolescents in South Korea
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2015; 45(2): 183-191.

Published online: 30 April 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.2.183

Effects of Sexual Intercourse on Suicidal Behaviors among Adolescents in South Korea

Hyun Sik Kim

Department of Sociology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Hyun Sik. Department of Sociology, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea. Tel: +82-2-961-0806, Fax: +82-2-961-0622, sochyunsik@khu.ac.kr

Received 2 July 2014       Revised 8 July 2014       Accepted 31 December 2014

© 2015 Korean Society of Nursing Science

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

Abstract

Purpose

For the current article an examination was done as to whether engaging in sexual intercourse before or during adolescence has a negative impact on the suicidal behaviors of suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide lethality and whether the impact varies according to the context of sexual intercourse and/or gender.

Methods

Adolescents who experienced casual sex and romantic sex were compared to adolescents who retained their virginity. Data was from samples drawn from the three waves (2010~2012) of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. Logistic models were used to adjust for a wide array of confounding variables.

Results

Any type of sexual intercourse increases risk of all suicidal behaviors. Sexual intercourse in a romantic relationship exhibits enhanced risk of suicidal behaviors compared to casual sex. Adjusting for experience of sexual violence, however, decreases risk of romantic sex substantially, turning some estimates statistically insignificant. In addition, risks for suicide lethality are greater for girls than boys.

Conclusion

Romantic sex put adolescents at higher risk for suicidal behaviors than casual sex owing to prevalent sexual violence in the relationships. Girls suffer more substantively adverse outcomes than boys. These results suggest that adolescents will benefit from comprehensive education on sexuality and sexual behaviors regarding how to form and maintain a romantic relationship that is characterized by personal integrity and mutual respect. It is also important to help victims of sexual violence recover from traumatic events by providing emotional support and effective counseling.

Keywords: Adolescence, Sexual intercourse, Suicide, Contexts of sexual intercourse

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Descriptive Statistics by Sexual Experiences*

jkan-45-183-i001

* Unless otherwise noted, weights ("w") are applied; †Statistics associated with this sign denote mean and the other statistics show percentage of a specific category; ‡Romantic non-sexual relationship; §Casual sexual relationship; ∥Romantic sexual relationship.

Table 2

Odd Ratios Predicting Suicidal Behaviors before Adjusting for Sexual Violence*

jkan-45-183-i002

*Weights ("w") are applied.

Table 3

Odd Ratios Predicting Suicidal Behaviors after Adjusting for Sexual Violence*

jkan-45-183-i003

*Weights ("w") are applied.

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