Personal values and sexual decision-making among virginal and sexually experienced urban adolescent girls

Predictors of Secondary Abstinence in U.S. College Undergraduates

“…Rather than studying secondary abstinence, much of the adolescent sexuality research focuses on antecedents of initiation of sexual intercourse (Kirby, 1997(Kirby, , 2002Zimmer-Gembeck, Siebenbruner, & Collins, 2004) and, in rare instances, individuals' reasons for primary abstinence (never having had intercourse) (Bassett et al, 2002;Dunsmore, 2005;Lammers, Ireland, Resnick, & Blum, 2000;Loewenson et al, 2004). Available evidence points to a variety of factors that correlate with primary abstinent behavior, including higher socioeconomic status (Lammers et al, 2000;Oman, Vesely, Kegler, McLeroy, & Aspy, 2003), having been raised in a dualparent household (Lammers et al, 2000;Oman et al, 2003) and having parents with higher education levels (Carvajal et al, 1999;Oman et al, 2003), fear of adverse consequences such as pregnancy or STIs (Blinn-Pike, 1999;Dunsmore, 2005;Loewenson et al, 2004), parental expectations and influences (Bassett et al, 2002;Lammers et al, 2000;Paradise, Cote, Minsky, Lourenco, & Howland, 2001), personal values (Blinn-Pike, Berger, Hewett, & Oleson, 2004;Paradise et al, 2001), and religious influences (Bassett et al, 2002;Dunsmore, 2005;Lammers et al, 2000;Oman et al, 2003). A recent qualitative study also found ''future orientation,'' beliefs about ''positive outcomes of abstinence,'' fear of a ''physical/sexual relationship,'' ''concerns related to social responsibility,'' ''fear of emotional/moral consequences,'' and the desire to gain control in, or manipulate aspects of, a relationship cited by a sample of college students as important motivations for primary abstinence (Dunsmore, 2005, pp.…”

“…Although researchers have alluded to the term or the concept in their work (Erulkar, Ettyang, Onoka, Nyagah, & Muyonga, 2004;Haglund, 2003;Norris, Clark, & Magnus, 2003;Paradise et al, 2001;Simbayi, Chauveau, & Shisana, 2004;Thomas, 2000), only one study has examined secondary abstainers' reasons for avoiding intercourse (Loewenson et al, 2004). That study found the reasons were similar to those cited by primary abstainers and included fear of negative consequences and ''normative beliefs about the appropriateness of having intercourse'' (Loewenson et al, 2004, p. 213).…”

Sexual Regret in College Students

“…Other literature offers reasons given for engaging in or not engaging in sexual interaction, including inconsistencies with one's values and beliefs (Paradise, Cote, Minsky, Lourenco, & Howland, 2001), perceptions of peer and parental stances on premarital intercourse (Herold & Goodwin, 1981;Paradise et al, 2001;Sprecher & Regan, 1996), and religiosity (Christopher & Cate, 1984;Herold & Goodwin, 1981;Paradise et al, 2001;Sprecher & Regan, 1996). Although not always labeled as such, many of these affective responses and cognitive reasons for engaging in or waiting to engage in sexual activities are facets of anticipated or actual regret.…”

A Momentary Sampling Study of the Affective Experience Following Coital Events in Adolescents

“…If sexual intercourse is a positive experience and therefore effective in producing improved affect, then the individual is likely to pursue future coital experiences. A study of adolescent girls found that 37% of those who were not virgins indicated that "I like having sex" was a reason that they were sexually active [3].…”