Gender differences and factors influencing adolescent sexual experience after COVID-19: Evidence from the 2022 and 2023 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Purpose: This study examined gender differences in adolescent sexual experience and associated factors following the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Secondary data from 104,718 participants in the 2022 and 2023 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were analyzed using frequency analysis, χ² tests, complex sample general linear models, t-tests, and logistic regression. Results: gender differences appeared in household economic status, academic achievement, smartphone usage time, suicidal ideation, and loneliness. Males in the high household economic status group were 1.40 times more likely to exhibit sexual experience than the middle group (95% CI, 1.28~1.53, p<.001), while females in the low household economic status group were 1.51 times more likely (95% CI, 1.32~1.72, p<.001). Similarly, males in the high academic achievement group were 1.13 times more likely to have sexual experience (95% CI, 1.02~1.26, p=.025), whereas females in the low academic achievement group were 1.17 times more likely (95% CI, 1.03~1.33, p=.013). Males who used their smartphones for 200 minutes or more on weekdays had a 1.15 times higher likelihood of sexual experience (95% CI, 1.04~1.26, p=.005). However, females showed a significant association only with weekend smartphone usage time of 400 minutes or more (95% CI, 1.07~1.36, p=.003). Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with sexual experience in males (1.19 times, 95% CI, 1.04~1.36, p=.012), Meanwhile, sexual experience was significantly associated with moderate (1.24 times, 95% CI, 1.09~1.41, p=.001) and high levels of loneliness in females (1.47 times, 95% CI, 1.25~1.74, p<.001). Conclusion: Gender-specific health policies and tailored sexual education programs are needed.