Teenage boys and girls are equally ill-informed about the prognosis of these different diseases. Fortunately, many teens recognize their lack of knowledge. Teenage boys name the same problems, but do so less frequently. Teens are also unsure whether STDs have long-term effects on males. A False Sense of Confidence American teens 15-17, like adults of reproductive age, are confident they know most of what there is to know about STDs.
Girls are slightly more likely than boys to say they know a lot.
Teens from higher income homes also tend to believe they are more knowledgeable. To some extent teen s confidence in their knowledge about STDs may be justified. Those who say they know at least a fair amount about STDs are somewhat more knowledgeable than those who admit not knowing much at all. However, they are not better informed than others about transmission facts. Those who claim to know a lot are only slightly more knowledgeable than those who say they know only a fair amount.