Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Sexual ActivityResults of 39th installment announced

The 39th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out from June 17 to 24 on the subject of “Sexual Activity.” The survey found that less than one quarter of respondents had had a sexual experience, and of those, less than one quarter had their first experience at age 15 or younger. Both male and female respondents listed their mother highest as the person they would consult about a pregnancy or possible pregnancy, but overall, more that 17% replied that they would not consult with anyone. With regard to a proposal currently being considered to make emergency contraception pills available without a prescription, more than 70% supported the proposal.

Against the backdrop of a sharp rise in pregnancy consultations by teenagers during the coronavirus pandemic, last year The Nippon Foundation launched a crisis pregnancy support project and established an expert council on sex and pregnancy. We intend to incorporate the survey’s findings in this project and in the council’s policy recommendations.

Notes:

  1. From the 13th survey, the number of respondents, comprising men and women aged 17 to 19, has been increased to 1,000 from 800. (With the exception of the 20th installment, “Awareness Survey of Society and Country,” all surveys cover respondents in Japan only.)
  2. In the information below, differences between total amounts and simple sums are due to rounding.

Survey 39. Sexual Activity (Results announced on July 28, 2021)

Finding: 23.6% of respondents have had a sexual experience. (n = 920; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

“Have you had a sexual experience?”

Pie chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “Have you had a sexual experience?”, 23.6% of respondents replied “Yes”, while 76.4% replied “No.” (n = 920; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

Finding: Of those respondents who had had a sexual experience, 22.2% had their first sexual experience at the age of 15 or younger. (n = 203; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

“At what age did you have your first sexual experience?”

Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “At what age did you have your first sexual experience?”, no respondents replied “Age 10 or younger” or Age 11,” 3.0% of respondents replied “Age 12,” 3.0% of respondents replied “Age 13,” 5.9% of respondents replied “Age 14,” 10.3% of respondents replied “Age 15,” 20.7% of respondents replied “Age 16,” 27.6% of respondents replied “Age 17,” 24.6% of respondents replied “Age 18,” and 4.9% of respondents replied “Age 19.” (n = 203; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

Finding: 58.5% of respondents found sex education at school useful. (n = 897; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

“Did you find sex education at school useful?”

Pie chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “Did you find sex education at school useful?”, 58.5% of respondents replied “Yes”, while 41.5% replied “No.” (n = 897; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

Finding: Both male and female respondents listed their mother highest as the person they would consult about a pregnancy or possible pregnancy, but overall, more that 17% replied that they would not consult with anyone. (Multiple answers allowed; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

“If you or your partner suspected or confirmed a pregnancy, who (other than your partner) would you consult?”

Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “If you or your partner suspected or confirmed a pregnancy, who (other than your partner) would you consult?”, 40.5% of males and 50.6% of females replied “Mother,” 29.5% of males and 40.7% of females replied “Friend,” 26.1% of males and 19.2% of females replied “Physician,” 28.8% of males and 6.5% of females replied “Father,” 14.6% of males and 1.7% of females replied “Partner’s parent,” 6.4% of males and 5.8% of females replied “School teacher, infirmary staff,” 3.7% of males and 6.9% of females replied “Sibling,” 3.0% of males and 3.7% of females replied “A stranger via an internet site available to anyone,” 3.0% of males and 3.4% of females replied “Someone I know via social media or other registration-based internet service,” 0.2% of males and 0.2% of females replied “Other,” and 20.6% of males and 14.4% of females replied “Would not consult with anyone.” (multiple answers allowed; n = 437 for males and 464 for females; excluding respondents who chose not to reply)

Other Findings

  • Do you feel that you have sufficient knowledge regarding sex?
    • Yes – 24.3%
    • No – 29.7%
    • Don’t know – 45.9%
  • Among respondents who had had a sexual experience (n = 210), the figure for those who found sex education at school useful dropped slightly.
    • Yes – 53.3%
    • No – 46.7%
  • Of all respondents (n = 940; excluding respondents who chose not to reply) the top answer (40.9%) among the things they wish had been covered in greater detail in school sex education was “Relationship between love and healthy sexual relationships.”
  • Support for the proposal currently being considered to make emergency contraception pills available without a prescription.
    • Approve – 71.4%
    • Disapprove – 5.5%
    • Don’t know – 23.2%

Related Link

Contact

Public Relations Team
The Nippon Foundation

  • Email: cc@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp

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