ABSTRACT
The teenage years coincide with an awakening of sexual identity. This is a rather complex process and is closely associated with the striving to achieve a personal identity. During this time, adolescents are discovering ‘who they are’ and questions about sexual identity form an important part of this process. The gradual awakening or unfolding of sexual identity (Sarrel and Sarrel 1981) incorporates several facets of sexuality. On one level, the teenager is developing physically, while another level involves psychological challenge, namely sexual interest in members of the same or opposite sex, sexual behaviour, sex drive, and sexual readiness (Miller and Dyk 1993). For many teenagers this sexual awakening can be an anxious and confusing time for, although adolescents may be physically ready to engage in sexual activity, they may not be emotionally ready to accept the associated consequences and responsibilities of such behaviour.
