On August 15, 2010, during a meeting of the American Sociological Association, findings were released that dispel rumors that sexually active teens perform worse in school than their abstinent counterparts. At least this holds true for those in committed relationships. Students who "hook up" or have multiple casual partners aren't quite as lucky.
The study was done by researchers from the University of California, Davis and the University of Minnesota and it explained that students who claimed to have causal flings typically have lower grade point averages -.16 lower in average for female students and .30 lower in average for males - than those in committed sexual relationships and those who abstain. According to the study, students might actually benefit from serious and committed relationships and the support that comes with it.
This should be slightly comforting to parents, considering the fact that in a study released this summer it was estimated that roughly 50% of high school students were sexually active during the previous school year. For an even scarier number - at least 14% of them claim to have had multiple partners.
But if a parent's biggest concern is academics, at least students are safe there.
AP News: Teen sex not always bad for school performance by Alicia Chang
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