TABLES: Sexual Intercourse and the Age Difference Between Adolescent Females and Their Romantic Partners

	Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health Volume 34, Number 6, November/December 2002
	Sexual Intercourse and the Age Difference Between Adolescent Females and Their Romantic Partners TABLES

TABLE 1. Percentage distribution of adolescent females with a romantic partner, by selected characteristics, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 1995

Characteristic %
(N=1,975)

Age at start of relationship

<13 25.8

14 18.8

15 20.8

16 19.9

>=17 14.7

Partner age

Younger/same age* 28.2

1 yr. older 23.7

2-3 yrs. older 32.6

4-5 yrs. older 10.2

>=6 yrs. older 5.3

Race/ethnicity

White 68.5

Black 15.0

Hispanic 10.6

Other 6.0

Religion

Baptist 23.7

Catholic 24.0

Other 40.8

None 11.5

Mother figure at home

Yes 93.8

No 6.2

Mother's education

<college graduate 76.8

College graduate 23.2

Total 100.0

*Includes partners older by less than one year. Note: Percentages are weighted; N is unweighted.

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TABLE 2. Percentage distribution of adolescent females with a romantic partner, and percentage who have had intercourse with that partner, by age gap between partners, according to female's age at start of relationship
Age and age gap	All	Have had intercourse
Females aged <13	(N=485)	(N=131)
Partner younger/same age*	16.4	8.5
Partner older by 1-3 yrs.	63.6	23.3
Partner older by >=4 yrs.	19.9	40.8
Total	100.0	24.3
Females aged 14-15	(N=794)	(N=327)
Partner younger/same age*	27.7	23.1
Partner older by 1-3 yrs.	59.3	42.9
Partner older by >=4 yrs.	13.1	67.4
Total	100.0	40.6
Females aged >=16	(N=696)	(N=399)
Partner younger/same age*	37.4	55.0
Partner older by 1-3 yrs.	47.6	59.0
Partner older by >=4 yrs.	15.0	67.9
Total	100.0	58.8
Includes partners older by less than one year. Note:* Percentages are weighted; Ns are unweighted.

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FIGURE 1. Odds ratios from logistic regression analysis indicating the association between partners' age gap and females' having had intercourse with a romantic partner, by female's age

Notes: Odds ratios were adjusted for respondent's race or ethnicity, respondent's religion, presence of mother figure at home and mother's education. The reference for each age was the group of females with a same-age partner.

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TABLE 1. Percentage distribution of adolescent females with a romantic partner, by selected characteristics, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 1995
Characteristic	% (N=1,975)
Age at start of relationship
<13	25.8
14	18.8
15	20.8
16	19.9
>=17	14.7
Partner age
Younger/same age*	28.2
1 yr. older	23.7
2-3 yrs. older	32.6
4-5 yrs. older	10.2
>=6 yrs. older	5.3
Race/ethnicity
White	68.5
Black	15.0
Hispanic	10.6
Other	6.0
Religion
Baptist	23.7
Catholic	24.0
Other	40.8
None	11.5
Mother figure at home
Yes	93.8
No	6.2
Mother's education
<college graduate	76.8
College graduate	23.2
Total	100.0
Includes partners older by less than one year. Note:* Percentages are weighted; N is unweighted.