Our free newsletter
offers tips and tools
you need to create
a happier and
healthier family!

Categories


All Articles
CALL: (888) 972-7736

Intercourse may affect body perception

By Staff Writer

Young girls may experience declines in satisfaction with their bodies after they have sex for the first time, although intercourse provides a body-perception boost for boys, according to a recent study published in the journal Adolescence.

The researchers found that girls who had sex before they entered college were more likely to experience symptoms of depression. They noted that this may be due to the belief that females feel most confident between their freshman and senior years of undergraduate school.

One of the investigators said that she believes sexual education programs should focus on encouraging positive body image.

Girls who develop feelings of depression related to their physical appearance may be susceptible to eating disorders.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 3 percent of girls between the ages of 13 and 18 have severe eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia.

When left untreated, eating disorders may cause individuals to experience cardiac conditions or kidney failure. Co-existing mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are also common among teens who have distorted body images.

Boarding schools for troubled youth may provide treatment for these issues, along with non-stressful educational environments.

Share |