The life stage called early adulthood defines individuals between the ages of 20

and 35, who are typically vibrant, active and healthy, and are focused on
friendships, romance, child bearing and careers. Yet serious conditions, such as
violent events, depression and eating disorders, can negatively impact young
adults.

Physical Changes

Females reach their adult heights by age 18, and, except for some males who
continue to grow in their early 20s, most have reached their adult heights by the
age of 21. However, muscles continue to gain mass - especially among males, and
both genders continue to add body fat. Average weight gain for both women and
men is about 15 pounds.
Death rates due to disease are low in this life stage, but the rate of violence-related
deaths is high. A 2005 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) National Violent Death Reporting System states that violent death is highest
for people ages 20 to 24, and overall, men are more likely than women to die
violently. Violent death includes homicide, suicide and motor-vehicle deaths. The
CDC reports that of approximately 50,000 violent deaths in the United States each
year, more than 56 percent of those deaths are suicide, and 30 percent are
homicides.
Another area of concern for people in this age group is eating disorders, which
include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. A study by
the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported
that 5 percent to 10 percent of individuals with anorexia die within 10 years after
contracting the disease, and 18 percent to 20 percent die after 20 years.

Cognitive Changes

Debate among develop mentalists center on whether or not to assign a formal

cognitive stage to early adulthood. Earlier life stages result in dramatic and critical
changes, whereas in early adulthood essential brain growth already has taken place,
and individuals are now applying and using their knowledge, and analytical
capabilities.
"Early adulthood" redirects here. For other uses, see Early adulthood (disambiguation).
Emerging adulthood is a phase of the life span between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood,
proposed by Jeffrey Arnett in a 2000 article in the American Psychologist.[1]Emerging adulthood also
encompasses late adolescence and early adulthood. It primarily applies to young adults
in developed countries who do not have children, do not live in their own home, or do not have
sufficient income to become fully independent in their early to late 20s. Jeffrey Arnett says emerging
adulthood is the period between 18 and 25 years of age where adolescents become more
independent and explore various life possibilities. Emerging adulthood is a new demographic, is
contentiously changing, and some[2] believe that twenty-somethings have always struggled with
"identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and feeling in-between".[3]
Early adulthood (also called "emerging adulthood") is a stage of life between 18 and 25 years,
when adolescents become more independent and explore different life possibilities.

Pre-marital sex is sexual activity practiced by persons who are unmarried. Historically considered
taboo in many cultures and considered a sin in numerous religions, it has become more commonly
accepted in developed countries in the last few decades. A 2014 Pew study on global morality found
that premarital sex was considered unacceptable in "predominantly Muslim nations" such
as Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt, each having over 90% disapproval, while many Western
European nations were the most accepting, with Spain, Germany and France having less than 10%
disapproval.
Until the 1950s,[2] the term "pre-marital sex" referred to sexual relations between two people prior to
marrying each other.[3] During that period, Western societies expected that men and women marry by
the age of 21 or 22; as such, there were no considerations that one who had sex would not marry.
The term was used instead of fornication, due to the negative connotations of the latter.[2]
The meaning has since shifted, referring to all sexual relations a person has prior to marriage; this
removes emphasis on who the relations are with.[3] The definition has a degree of ambiguity. It is not
clear whether sex between individuals legally forbidden from marrying, or the sexual relations of one
uninterested in marrying could be considered premarital. [2]
Alternative terms for pre-marital sex have been suggested, including non-marital sex (which overlaps
with adultery), youthful sex, adolescent sex, and young-adult sex. These terms also suffer from a
degree of ambiguity, as the definition of having sex differs from person to person.[2]

Prevalence[edit]
In some cultures, for example in many modern-day Western cultures, sexual abstinence before
marriage is not valued. In some cultures, sexual abstinence is discouraged.
Historically, at least a significant portion of people have engaged in premarital sex, although the
number willing to admit to having done so was not always high. In a study conducted in the United
States, 61 percent of men and 12 percent of women born prior to 1910 admitted to having premarital
sex; the gender disparity may have been caused by cultural double standards regarding the
admission of sexual activity or by men frequenting prostitutes.[2]
Starting in the 1920s, and especially after World War II, premarital sex became more common; this
was especially prevalent among women. By the end of the 20th century, between 75 and 80 percent
of Americans had vaginal intercourse before the age of 19. This has been attributed to numerous
causes, including the increasing median age at marriage and the widespread availability of
efficient contraceptives.[2]
According to a 2001 UNICEF survey, in 10 out of 12 developed nations with available data, more
than two thirds of young people have had sexual intercourse while still in their teens. In Denmark,

Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, the proportion is
over 80%. In Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, approximately 25% of 15 year
olds and 50% of 17 year olds have had sex.[4] In a 2005 Kaiser Family Foundation study of US
teenagers, 29% of teens reported feeling pressure to have sex, 33% of sexually active teens
reported "being in a relationship where they felt things were moving too fast sexually", and 24% had
"done something sexual they didnt really want to do".[5] Several polls have indicated peer
pressure as a factor in encouraging both girls and boys to have sex. [6][7]

Safe Sex practices[edit]

People who have premarital sex are recommended by health professionals to take precautions to
protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such asHIV/AIDS.[8] There is also a
risk of an unplanned pregnancy in heterosexual relationships.[9] Around the world, sex
education programs are run to teach school students aboutreproductive health, safer
sex practices, sexual abstinence and birth control.
Sexual activity among unmarried people who do not have access to information about reproductive
health and birth control can increase the rate of teenage pregnancies and contraction of sexually
transmitted infections. The rates of teenage pregnancy vary and range from 143 per 1000 girls in
some sub-Saharan African countries to 2.9 per 1000 in South Korea. The rate for the United States
is 52.1 per 1000, the highest in the developed world and about four times the European Union
average.[4][10] The teenage pregnancy rates between countries must take into account the level of
general sex education available and access to contraceptive options.

The Effects of Premarital Sex

Physical
* Change in appearance- Have you ever noticed how people who have had sex outside of marriage
begin to look different? They begin to look old and worn. Like a toy that has been used over and over
again begins to lose its physical appeal, so does a person who continually has sex outside of marriage.
Many try to mask this used up look by adding more make-up or wearing more revealing clothes to
take the attention off their face and put it on their body. Many girls who are sexually active and taking
birth control gain up to 25 lbs. This unnecessary weight gain can also alter your appearance. I
personally recognized a change in my physical appearance after I lost my virginity. I remember looking
through my pictures one day and I came across a picture of myself during my senior year in high

school (as a virgin), and a picture taken during my freshman year in college (after losing my virginity).
It may sound strange, but somehow I looked harder. My face didnt glow the way it did in my high
school pictures and my countenance had changed. It really hit me at that moment how much of
myself I had lost.
* Teen Pregnancy- Premarital sex often leads to unplanned pregnancies. Teenagers however have
more odds stacked against them than older women do. Statistics suggest teens are two times more
likely to die in childbirth or pregnancy than older women are. They have difficult deliveries, scarring,
stretchmarks, low birth weight babies, along with the standard sagging breast and tummy, weight
gain, nausea, tears, and dark circles under their eyes. Why would you want to deal with all of this
unnecessary drama in the prime of your life? Could this be why God tells us to stay pure until we are
married? He knows the impacts of sex on our body. Romans 6:23 says, for the wages of sin is
death God is our Heavenly Father. The same way your earthly father wants to protect you from
harm, God desires so much more to protect you from the effects (or wages) of sin on your body and
your soul.
* Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)- The spread of diseases through sexual contact is not a
pretty picture. STDs reveal themselves through burning, itching, oozing, and pus filled sores on your
genitals. Now thats gross! Even if you dont visibly see a sore on your genitals it does not mean that
you have not been infected. Lets see, you can either practice self-control and wait until you are
married to have sex, or you can take your chances and hope you dont catch anything that will require
shots or taking medication several times a day. Have you ever seen the commercials with attractive
young people who are talking about having herpes? They say things like, I only have to take such and
such medication five times a day and I feel great. Thats ridiculous. They are insulting our
intelligence. Some STDs are incurable. If you catch them you have them for life. Thats a lifetime
prison sentence, in exchange for a moment of pleasure with someone you may not even like in three
days. I have a friend whose little sister contracted herpes the first time she had sex. Im no
mathematician, but that just doesnt seem to add up.
Spiritual
* Self-destructive behavior- As a Christian, when you engage in premarital sex, you are
consciously sinning against God. This can lead to a perpetual cycle of self-destruction. You develop
low self-esteem, low self-worth, and diminished expectations of yourself. In many cases, the
devastation that comes from giving a holy thing (your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit) to an unholy
cause, (physical gratification outside of marriage) will lead to feelings of emptiness, embarrassment,
and confusion. You begin to question everything about yourself and the world, as you know it. Like
Adam and Eve you realize your nakedness before God, and because you are not equipped to deal with
it at such an early age, you sink into an abyss of self-loathing and destructive behavior. Many
students grades drop and they lose interest in things that they once enjoyed after having sex. I

remember feeling super insecure about almost everything after I had sex. If I felt insecure about it
before sex, it was only worsened afterward. Here is a poem I wrote in college after breaking up with
my boyfriend. I had lost my true self while living a life of compromise and people pleasing. I found
myself in the midst of an Identity Crisis.

Premarital Sex - Positives and Negatives

"Is it ok to have premarital sex?" That is a common question among teens and engaged couples.
Perhaps you are in a relationship that is progressing in that direction, but you're not sure what to do.
In your mind, you are probably weighing the pros and cons of premarital sex. On the positive side of
the scale, there is acceptance from your peers, hope for pleasure, and the fulfillment of sexual desires.
The negative side of the scale carries the weights of morals, fear of pregnancy or disease, and guilt.
How do these scales balance? What is the right decision? Let's take a look at some of the facts.
Premarital Sex - Is it Moral?
Morality is a factor for many people when deciding whether or not to have premarital sex. Is it a factor
for you? After all, the messages we receive from most TV shows and movies these days tells us
"everyone is doing it." In light of today's permissive attitude, your peers may think you're weird to
even question it.
But maybe there is something inside you, like a voice in your head, that is making you uncertain about
whether or not sex before marriage is a right or wrong action. Many people refer to this voice as their
conscience. How can you know if your "conscience" is right? People all around the world look to the
Bible as a moral or religious book, so let's see what it says about premarital sex.
The Bible refers to premarital sex as fornication. That's a word we don't hear much these days, so
what does it mean? Fornication is sexual intercourse between people who are not married to each
other. The only distinction the Bible makes between premarital sex and adultery is that adultery
involves married persons while fornication involves those who are unmarried. Premarital sex is just as
much of a sin as adultery and all other forms of sexual immorality. They all involve having sexual
relations with someone you are not married to.
The Bible explains, "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for
the body" (1 Corinthians 6:13). Verse 18 of this chapter goes on to say, "Flee from sexual immorality.
All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own
body." Galatians 5:19 speaks the same, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity" Ephesians 5:3 says it most plainly, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual
immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
From these verses, we see that the Bible promotes complete and total abstinence from premarital sex.
Premarital Sex - Is it Safe Physically and Emotionally?
Another consideration when deciding about premarital sex is safety. Did you know that 50% of the
people who currently have HIV are between the ages of 15 and 24? 1 Using a condom only reduces the
risk of contracting HIV by 85%. Condoms do not significantly reduce the risk of contracting other
sexually transmitted diseases.2 Take these statistics into consideration when making your decision.
Most people don't consider the emotional effects of premarital sex. You see, sex is an emotional

experience and it affects our lives in ways we don't understand. After engaging in premarital sex,
many people express feelings of guilt, embarrassment, distrust, resentment, lack of respect, tension,
and so much more. As you read the next section, consider God's love for you as a primary reason for
sexual purity. God does not want you to experience unnecessary emotional pain!
Premarital Sex - Recreation or Re-creation?
In discussing premarital sex, we often focus on the "recreation" aspect of it. Yes, sex is pleasurable.
God, our Creator, designed it that way. It may be hard to think of God creating sex, but He did! In
God's plan, sex was designed for married couples to enjoy the pleasure and excitement of sexual
relations. The Bible talks about this in Hebrews 13:4, "Marriage should be honored by all, and the
marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." God created
sex to be fun, exciting, and pleasurable. At the same time, though, it is clear in the Bible that God
restricts sexual activity to married couples.
Why is this? Yes, sex is pleasurable, but in God's view, the primary purpose of sex is not recreation,
but rather re-creation. In other words, sex is for reproduction. God does not limit sex to married
couples to rob pleasure from those who are unmarried. Rather, God commands against premarital sex
in order to protect unmarried people from unwanted pregnancies, from children born to parents who
do not want them, and to protect children from parents who are not prepared for them. Imagine, for a
moment, a world without premarital sex. There would be no sexually-transmitted diseases, there
would be no un-wed mothers, there would be no unwanted pregnancies, there would be no abortions,
etc. According to the Bible, abstinence is God's only policy when it comes to premarital sex.
Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value, and most importantly
abstinence honors God.
- See more at: http://www.allaboutworldview.org/premarital-sex.htm#sthash.xzT5PvKd.dpuf