A European Comparative Study of Sexual Behaviors in Adolescents with and without a Migrant Background

Abstract

This study investigated whether there was an association between having a migrant background and sexual behaviors (i.e., earlier sexual initiation or ESI and use of contraceptives) among youth, considering migrant policies within country of settlement and religion of the country of origin as factors affecting sexual behaviors of youth with a migrant background. Data were used from the 2013–14 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study, including representative samples of 15 years old adolescents among 18 European countries/regions. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that adolescents with a migrant background were less likely to report contraceptive pill use compared to their native peers, while no differences were revealed for ESI and use of condom. Unexpectedly, main religion of the country of origin was not associated with sexual behaviors among adolescents with migrant background. Moreover, adolescents living in countries with halfway favorable policies to migrant integration, were more likely to report ESI and to use a condom than those living in countries with favorable policies. Findings imply that adolescents with migrant background are not necessarily more vulnerable to risky sexual behaviors and recommend further research in the interplay of factors with adolescents’ sexual behaviors at different societal levels.