Abstinence from Premarital Sex: A Precursor to Quality Relationship and Marital Stability in Subsequent Marriage in Nigerian Society

Abstract

The last half of the 20th century has witnessed substantial changes in the practice of premarital partnership among the youths and unmarried adults. The growing trend in premarital behavioural pattern of today exposes teenagers to living in the world of great sexual exploration and indulgence. This could negatively impact future marital quality and marital stability. This study examined the influence of premarital sex among 3,824 married people where 1931 (50.5%) were males and 1893 (49.5%) were female. The study showed that the respondents who engaged in premarital romantic activities and coitus did not experience the same quality marital relationship and stability as the married people who abstained from premarital sexual activities. Premarital sexual activities have potentially damaging effect on subsequent marriage relationships. Sexual abstinence among the youth before marriage could promote healthy marriage relationship in the future.

Effect of morality training technique on cohabitation behaviour among undergraduate students of IMO State University, Owerri

“…This finding is in line with Okafor (2014) [17] findings which revealed that morality training had a positive effect on the maladjustment behaviour of the students. In consonance, Ogunsola (2011) [15] advocated for necessary empowerment of the youngsters, especially the female teenagers, through proper sex education to avoid the harmful consequences of premarital behaviours that often lead to sexual activities. It is an essential step taken to properly inform the young adults about the obstructive outcome of premarital behaviours such as romantic intimacy and sexual relationships to avoid its negative consequences in their future marriages, hence the usefulness of morality training.…”

“…Empirically, Okafor (2014) [17] revealed that morality training had a positive effect on the maladjustment behaviour of the students. In consonance, Ogunsola (2011) [15] advocated for necessary empowerment of the youngsters, especially the female teenager, through proper sex education to avoid the harmful consequences of premarital behaviours that often lead to sexual activities. Igba, Ofem and Isu (2016) [5] who revealed that good guidance and counselling are good strategies for restoring morality among youths within families.…”

Time to premarital cohabitations and its predictors among youth women in Ethiopia 2016 demographic and health survey, using parametric shared frailty model

“…Cohabitation resulted in very likely experiences of abuse, exploitation, intimate partner violence, murder, and suicide (19)(20)(21). Due to the frequent lack of commitment and transient nature of the relationship, cohabiting female youths are frequently at risk for poor mental health following disagreements (22,23).…”

The Viewpoints of Sexually Active Single Women About Premarital Sexual Relationships: A Qualitative Study in the Iranian Context

“…Therefore, sexual abstinence before marriage is suggested as the best protective method for sexually transmitted diseases and their outcomes ( 4 , 5 ). In addition there is evidence that adolescents who engage in premarital sexual activities may not experience the same quality marital relationship and stability as that of married people who abstained from premarital sexual activities ( 6 ). Thus, sexual abstinence has been recommended to prevent young adolescents from adverse outcomes of premarital sexual behaviors ( 7 , 8 ).…”