Faculty Sponsor: Professor Jennifer Rose
Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/95138209717
Xander Strulovic Lord
Xander Strulovic Lord (he/him) is a Math Major– Class of ’28.
Abstract: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a pressing public health concern in the United States, with early sexual initiation identified as a key risk factor for subsequent high-risk sexual behavior. This study examines how age at first sexual intercourse relates to STI-related sexual risk behavior among American adolescents, and whether this relationship varies by sexual identity. Data were drawn from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES), using a nationally representative sample of sexually active high school students (n=2,118) across 399 randomly selected US accredited schools. Earlier sexual debut was significantly associated with higher rates of risk behavior across all age groups. Non-heterosexual youth showed elevated risk irrespective of age at first intercourse, though the interaction between sexual debut age and sexual identity was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that early sexual initiation and non-heterosexual identity represent additive vulnerability factors, suggesting a need for holistic sexual health interventions targeting adolescents
QAC-201-Poster-2