Presentation of the study on sexuality and equality in adolescence carried out by the Centre for the Study and Prevention of Addictive Behaviours

The councillor for Social Welfare and Human Resources of the Eivissa Island Council, Carolina Escandell, and the director of the Centre for Prevention and Addictive Behaviour, CEPCA, Belén Alvite, presented the second part of the study on sexuality and equality in adolescence, which focuses on sexual and couple relationships in adolescence. The first part, presented last June, focused on adolescents on the island and their behaviour, attitudes and opinions towards LGTBIQ+ people. (This first part of the study has also been added to the attached document for consultation).

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The data collected in this second phase of the study, in which 1,823 students from the island’s five municipalities between the ages of 14 and 18 participated, focuses on sexual relations, relationships, the digital sphere and equality and sexuality, and highlights, in the words of Belén Alvite, a “very worrying” trend: almost 30% of adolescents in Ibiza consume pornography on a daily basis “which is laying the foundations for future sexual relations that are far removed from reality, complex and where the roles of equality disappear”. Councillor Escandell remarked that this study “helps us to have a snapshot of such an important stage for development as adolescence, where we must be alert and provide all the information, both to parents, children and teachers so that it is a healthy and respectful stage, where adolescents can have the tools to avoid situations that endanger their integrity”.

The data collected in the study shows that there are 79 students (22 men and 57 women) who have had sexual relations against their will, with their partner or ex-partner, with a friend or with a stranger, “a figure that tells us that we still have a lot of work to do, because on a small island like ours, there are 79 young people who have suffered this situation, it is not tolerable, it cannot be allowed”. Alvite pointed out, who asked parents to get involved in the task of informing, talking and communicating with their children, “it is at home where adolescents should find a refuge, an environment where they can express themselves, talk and receive the necessary support”. For this reason, the CEPCA will continue to work and reinforce the talks in schools, the series of meetings with families to advise them on these issues, designing activities for teachers to work on in the classroom and carrying out awareness campaigns in schools on abuse and sexual harassment, among other proposals that will be developed throughout this new academic year.

14 YEARS OLD, AGE OF FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

Among some of the data highlighted in the study is the average age of the first full sexual relationship, at 14 years of age. Of the 1,823 students participating in the study, 35% (644) indicated that they have had or are having sexual intercourse compared to 64.1% who are not. Of the students who are already having full sexual intercourse, 49.1% (316 students) have ever put themselves at risk without using a condom.