The following are strategies that enable adolescents to resist unsafe sexual practices while exploring relational and sexual intimacy:
1. Setting boundaries with oneself and others. Adolescents must establish their own personal boundaries regarding what they feel comfortable with physically, mentally, and emotionally. This can involve setting limits on physical touching, verbal communication, and emotional expression.
An adolescent may decide that kissing is acceptable but going further than that is not. They should communicate these boundaries to their partner(s) before engaging in intimate activities.
2. Being aware of the risks involved in different types of sexually active behavior. Adolescents need to understand the potential consequences of different types of sexually active behaviors, such as pregnancy, STD transmission, and emotional harm. It's important for them to educate themselves about safe sex practices, such as using condoms and other forms of protection, getting tested regularly, and talking openly with partners about sexual health history.
3. Understanding the importance of consent. Consent means freely given agreement to participate in sexual activity. Adolescents should be educated on how to recognize when someone is unable or unwilling to give consent, and how to respectfully decline or withdraw from a situation if they don't want to participate. They also need to understand that just because someone gives consent once doesn't mean it will continue to be granted indefinitely.
4. Seeking support from trusted adults. Parents, teachers, coaches, and counselors can provide guidance and resources to help adolescents navigate difficult situations involving relationships, sexuality, and intimacy. They can offer advice on dating apps, social media use, and online safety while encouraging open communication between teens and parents.
5. Fostering healthy relationships. Healthy romantic relationships involve mutual respect, communication, honesty, empathy, and trust. Adolescents should seek out partners who share their values and goals, and avoid those who are abusive, controlling, or manipulative. They should be open to discussing expectations and boundaries before engaging in physical intimacy.
6. Practicing self-care. Self-care involves taking care of one's mental, emotional, and physical well-being through activities like exercise, mindfulness, therapy, and time alone. This can help individuals feel more confident and secure in themselves, which can lead to safer and more satisfying relationships. By practicing self-care, adolescents can better resist pressure to engage in unsafe sex practices or enter unhealthy relationships.
7. Prioritizing education over entertainment. Adolescents should prioritize educational opportunities over entertainment when it comes to learning about sex and relationships. Watching pornography or participating in risky behavior for entertainment purposes is unlikely to provide useful information or prepare them for real life encounters. Instead, they should seek out reliable sources of information from books, articles, classes, and professionals.
What strategies allow adolescents to resist unsafe sexual practices while exploring relational and sexual intimacy?
Many experts emphasize that adolescent individuals can develop skills to prevent unsafe sexual practices through education on healthy relationship behaviors and open communication with their partners. In particular, they should learn how to set boundaries, prioritize consent, and establish mutual respect. This can involve educating themselves about what constitutes as unhealthy relationships and discussing personal preferences regarding sex and romance.