Growth and development is a steady and continuous process that starts at conception and ends when one dies. Each development stage is defined by certain characteristics and challenges. A child is supposed to overcome developmental challenges before proceeding to the next stage. Adolescent stage is one of the developmental stages characterized with physical, emotional, and physiological changes. Majority of the teenagers belong in this stage and are at a higher risk of contracting STDs such as HIV/AIDS, Syphilis and gonorrhea, and teenage pregnancy as they are sexually active. A report released by US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (2006) indicated that approximately 34.5% of US teenagers are sexually active. The report further indicated that about 47.5% of US teenagers reported having engaged in sexual intercourse with other students.
Numerous studies have consistently shown that sex (oral or vaginal) has negative and positive consequences. Teenagers who engage in sexual activities affirm that they experience emotional and psychological feelings, which are either positive or negative (Felsher 225). However, negative consequences have a long-term effect thus lowering one’s productivity, emotional attachment, and normal functioning. Teenage pregnancy and contraction of STDs remain the major negative consequences accruing from sexual relations among teenagers. Although this is the case, teenagers also experience other forms of negative consequences associated with sexual relations.
Regret and self-recrimination: It is common for teenagers to experience a sense of regrets and self-recrimination after having sex. Most teenagers have affirmed that they undergo emotional and psychological torture because they feel as if they have contravened their moral principles, values, and ideologies by engaging in the act. Additionally, regrets and self-recrimination consequences occur when a teenager engages in a sexual relation with a person whom he/she does not love or has no emotional attachment. This aspect may prevent the teenager from forming intimate sexually relation in the future.
Low self-esteem and self-respect: Most teenagers loss their self esteem and self respect when they realize they have contracted STDs and engaged in sexual activity without their consent. Lack of self-esteem and self-respect influence the teenager to engage in deviate behaviors such as smoking, alcoholism and drug and substance abuse thus rendering them unproductive.
Depression and suicide: It has been established that teenagers who engage in deviant and risky behaviors such as promiscuity, smoking, and drug and substance abuse are likely to suffer from depression. Deviate and risky behaviors arise from low self-esteem, guilt, regret and self-recrimination; aspects associated with sexual relations. In certain situations, teenagers commit suicide when they are unable to resolve the internal conflict. Therefore, teenagers not only contract STDs and teenage pregnancy, but also suffer from guilt, regret and self-recrimination, depression and suicide and low self-esteem and self-respect.
Work cited
Felsher, Halpern-. "Teenagers Report Both Positive and Negative Consequences from Sex." Pediatrics Journal 39.2 (2007): 221-236. Print.
