Christmas - a risky time?

A survey commissioned by the Time to Talk campaign questioned more than a thousand thirteen to seventeen year-olds and found that more than a third (34%) of them were more likely to have sex over Christmas, while more than two-thirds (68%) were more likely to drink alcohol.  A quarter said they felt under increased pressure to have sex at this time of year.

The survey was commissioned following figures published by the Office for National Statistics which showed a dramatic increase in conception rates among teenagers during December and January.

The survey found that teenagers cited their peers as the main source of pressure on them to have sex (58%), while 15% blamed the media. More than three quarters of boys (77%) said they felt the pressure came from their friends, compared with 44% of girls. Despite the statistics, two thirds of parents still believe sex is something that other people's children have.
Gill Frances, chairwoman of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said: "We've now got solid research which shows young people are much more likely to get pregnant over Christmas than at other times of the year.  I know that many parents are already doing a brilliant job of talking to their teenagers about sex and relationships but I'd urge all parents to give it a try.  It's never too late to start talking about sex and relationships and having that conversation now, before the Christmas party season, could make a very positive difference to a young person's life."

Speakeasy

Go to Speakeasy for information about help with talking to your children about relationships and sex.