YOUR TAKE: Do Relationships Prevent Bad Behavior?

Does being in a long-term, committed relationship make you more well-behaved than your friends who date around? According to a recent study from the University of Texas, the answer is yes. The study says that sexually active teens in romantic relationships are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior than teens who have casual sex, and that "teens who spend more one-on-one time with their boyfriends or girlfriends, and less time with their friends, have fewer opportunities to get into trouble."

And some parents seem to agree. A recent HuffPost Canada article asked parents and experts to weigh in on whether their teen's significant others should be allowed to sleep over. 29% of readers polled said that parents should allow their teens' boyfriends or girlfriends to spend the night. Rebecca Brown, founder of Bunchfamily.ca, said: "What we're hearing from the parents in our community is different than what I heard from my own parents. It's a general acceptance that your children are going to be sexually active in their teen years and ... wanting their kids to have positive first sexual experiences.” Although the decision ultimately depends on what works for your family, experts emphasized that communicating openly with your parents about your relationship helps you to make better-informed decisions.

What's your take? Do you think teens in long-term relationships get into less trouble? Sound off in the comments!