“Friends with benefits” are two people who agree to use each other for mutual gratification. This type of arrangement is becoming more and more common in our culture. So why is it so dangerous?

Many people will try to use sexual activity in order to solve problems of loneliness, depression, or boredom. Some just want the physical pleasure of a long lasting committed relationship, without the commitment. Anytime you engage in casual sexual contact, physical intimacy begins to loose its power, its depth, and its ability to bond two people together. It shows a mutual disrespect for one another, disregarding the dangerous risks involved in the act.

In fact, sexually active teens are more likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide. Source: Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, and Lauren R. Noyes, “Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide,” The Heritage Foundation, Center for Data Analysis Report No. 03-04, June 3, 2003.

Each person desires and deserves true love. But when they engage in a series of meaningless hook-ups and physical encounters with uncommitted men and women, they are willing to give away their bodies, robbing themselves of the dignity and self-worth that they deserve.

As young men and women, you should seek out a partner that respects and honors you for the incredibly complex person that you are, not just your body. When you choose to exhibit qualities of self-control, and to wait to be physically intimate, it can free you to create a healthy relationship, built on communication, trust, and acceptance.