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Page last updated on:
April 26, 2010
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According
to the
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United
States (SIECUS) a sexually healthy adolescent has the
following characteristics:
self
Appreciates Own Body
- Understands pubertal change
- Views pubertal changes as normal
- Practices health-promoting
behaviors, such as abstinence from alcohol and other drugs and
undergoing regular check-up
Takes Responsibility for Own Behaviors
- Identifies own values
- Decides what is personally
“right” and acts on these values
- Understands consequences of
actions
- Understands that media messages
can create unrealistic expectations related to sexuality and
intimate relationships
- Is able to distinguish personal
desires from that of the peer group
- Understands how alcohol and
other drugs can impair decision-making
- Recognizes behavior that may be
self-destructive and can seek help
Is Knowledgeable
About Sexuality Issues
- Enjoys sexual feelings without
necessarily acting upon them
- Understands the consequences of
sexual behaviors
- Makes personal decisions about
masturbation consistent with personal values
- Makes personal decisions about
sexual behaviors with a partner consistent with personal values
- Understands own gender identity
- Understands effect of gender
role stereotypes and makes choices about appropriate roles for
oneself
- Understands own sexual
orientation
- Seeks further information about
sexuality as needed
- Understands peer and cultural
pressure to become sexually involved
- Accepts people with different
values and experiences
Relationships with parents and family members
Communicates Effectively with Family About
Issues, Including Sexuality
- Maintains appropriate balance
between family roles and responsibilities and growing need for
independence
- Is able to negotiate with family
on boundaries
- Respects rights of others
- Demonstrates respect for adults
Understands and Seeks Information About
Parents’ and Family’s Values, and Considers Them in Developing
One’s Own Values
- Asks questions of parents and
other trusted adults about sexual issues
- Can accept trusted adults’
guidance about sexual issues
- Tries to understand parental
point of view
peers
Interacts With Both Genders in Appropriate and
Respectful Ways
- Communicates effectively with
friends
- Has friendship with males and
females
- Is able to form empathetic
relationships
- Is able to identify and avoid
exploitative relationships
- Understands and rejects sexual
harassing behaviors
- Respects others' right to privacy
- Respects others' confidences
Acts On One's Own Values and Beliefs
When They Conflict With Peers
- Understands pressures to be popular
and accepted and makes decisions consistent with own
values
Romantic partners
Expresses Love and Intimacy in Developmentally
Appropriate Ways
- Believes that boys and girls
have equal rights and responsibilities for love and sexual
relationships
- Communicates desire not to
engage in sexual behaviors and accepts refusals to engage in
sexual behaviors
- Is able to distinguish between
love and sexual attraction
- Seeks to understand and
empathize with partner
Has the Skills to Evaluate Readiness for Mature
Sexual Relationships
- Talks with a partner about
sexual behaviors before they occur
- Is able to communicate and
negotiate sexual behaviors
- If having intercourse, protects
self and partner from unintended pregnancy and diseases through
effective use of contraception and condoms and other safer sex
practices
- Knows how to use and access the
health care system, community agencies, religious institutions,
and schools, and seeks advice, information, and services as
needed
Source:
SIECUS Report:
National Commission on Adolescent Sexual Health,
1995
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