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This study aimed to disentangle the separate contributions of adolescent dating, romantic sex, and casual sex to depressive symptoms, delinquent behaviors, and experiences of violent victimization among adolescents. To explore these associations. we began with a nationally representative sample of adolescent virgins who had never dated (N = 2344). We examined the different trajectories these youth took the following year. By distinguishing between dating, romantic sex, and casual sex, we found that the transition to dating or romantic sexual intercourse was riot associated with significant increases in depressive symptoms, delinquent behaviors, or experiences of violent victimization; however, casual sex was associated with significantly greater psychological distress and problem behaviors before and after transition. We also discovered that casual sex is quite pervasive among adolescents. Almost 15% of twelve to sixteen year olds and more than 40% of seventeen to twenty-one year olds in our nationally representative sample who were virgins at Wave 1 had engaged in casual sex during the following year. The implications of these findings for adolescents' health are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]