The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has published a study carried out by researchers from the Bradley Hasbro Children’s research centre who explored psychiatric disorders and their relationship with risky sexual behaviour in adolescents. In particular, teenagers who experience dramatic mood swings as characterised by moods that are at one point euphoric changing suddenly to an irritable or remote mood are said to engage in a higher level of sexual activity, a larger number of sexual partners and have an increased risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection.
Moreover, teenagers who have disorders such as ADHD or who engage in dysfunctional behaviours such as stealing or behaving in a hostile manner are also more likely to have an active sex life. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress are all contributing factors as well.
Project STYLE was the name of the study carried out and was the first multi-site HIV prevention program for parents and young people with mental health disorders. More than half of participants were female and African-American and the average age was 15.
The disorders and behaviours mentioned above are associated with impulsive acts and the attitude the teenagers conveyed in their relationship with sex, according to Larry K. Brown of the research centre, displayed this kind of impulsive tendency regarding the number of sexual partners they engaged with and with the absence of contraception.
He suggests that teenagers diagnosed with such psychiatric disorders should have regular sexual health screenings as a part of their regular mental health therapies and treatments. Considering the rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea among young people today, the increased potential of this group to have sexual intercourse without contraception and with multiple partners, would put them at a much greater risk.
More than half of the participants had a history of vaginal or anal intercourse. Of those who were sexually active, 29% had sexual intercourse without the use of a condom. 31% had engaged sexually over the past 90 days with an average of 2 partners each and 15% reported that they had four or more partners. 14% tested positive for an STI. This group was four times more likely to have an STI than other groups.