Sexual Function and Problems with Adolescents and Young Adults

Despite high rates of sexual dysfunctions among adults, little research attention has been given to the sexual function and problems of adolescents and young adults. There are few community-based samples and no population-based data to date. Age is clearly linked to onset of dysfunctions, yet most studies explore late stages of adulthood. Work in this field is hampered by the lack of standardized measures or validated cutoff scores appropriate for use with young people. Several studies have explored specific forms of dysfunctions among young people or recall by adults of sexual problems experienced when younger, and these collectively reveal that sexual functioning can certainly be problematic for many. Two studies with comprehensive assessments of problems in sexual functioning are reviewed. They reveal that a sizable minority of young people experience difficulties, often significantly distressing in nature. This paper concludes with a call for researchers to explore this domain in full.