Andorran Teens Show Alarming Gender Gaps in Sexual Attitudes, Report Finds

A new report from the Juventia Youth Congress, organised by NGO Cooperand, reveals significant concerns among Andorran adolescents aged 16 to 18 regarding sexual attitudes, family communication and online influences.

The study, based on anonymous surveys of over 110 students from Escola Sant Ermengol and more than 12,000 participants from Latin America—mainly Bolivia—via streaming, highlights stark gender differences in views on relationships. Some 78% of boys see pretending to be in love to obtain sex as acceptable, compared to 33% of girls. Similarly, 60% of boys consider unwanted physical contact tolerable, while 70% of girls view it as unacceptable.

Consumption of violent pornography is also widespread, with 50% of boys and 40% of girls reporting exposure to such content. Despite this, 91% of youth acknowledge that negative online material harms their self-esteem, body image and personal relationships. Cooperand executive president Carla Riestra warned that gaps in home discussions drive young people to unregulated internet sources. "The void of talking at home is filled by the internet, and on the internet there is no control," she said.

Additionally, 79% of girls expressed a desire to discuss sexuality and affective relationships with parents but cited barriers, describing the topic as taboo. Some 89% of adolescents talk about sex among peers, underscoring unmet family dialogue needs.

Riestra described the findings as worrying and called for awareness without stigma, emphasising education over screen bans. "We must teach youth how to use mobiles," she said. Education Minister Ladislau Baró, who attended the report launch, praised the initiative for providing a "diagnosis" of youth realities and stressed turning data into policies. He noted the Andorra-Bolivia dialogue adds depth but called for broader participation across Andorran schools for greater representativeness. Issues like violence, inequality and lack of empathy concern him, with solutions lying in better information and guidance.

The research, conducted in three phases—pre-congress questionnaires, real-time QR code polls during the November event and post-analysis—aims to expand. Future editions of the Congress Juventia, set for 12-13 November, will include roundtables with parents on parent-youth ties, screen addictions, affective-sexual relations and gender violence. Plans involve more schools, university students and Ibero-American links to track intervention impacts.