Timing of the transition to nonvirginity among unmarried adolescent women

Abstract

This article focuses on differences between teenagers who became sexually active in early adolescence (15 or younger) and those who did so in late adolescence (16)(17)(18)(19). It reviews research on adolescent sexual behavior and summarizes findings on factors associated with adolescent coitus. The few findings on the meaning of first coitus are also noted. A study which used a sample of already-pregnant adolescents is presented in detail. While few differences between those who first had coitus during early adolescence and those who had it later were significant, most were in the predicted direction, and none were contrary to the hypotheses. A major significant difference concerned the relationship between sex and love; those who found the two related tended to start their sexual careers later than those who did not. Policy implications of research findings are discussed, especially those relevant to sex education.

Parental family characteristics and behavioral risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases in males

“…Therefore, youth with these aspirations are more likely to postpone sexual involvement in favor of pursuing other goals. This explanation is supported by research showing that adolescents who postponed premarital intercourse had higher socioeconomic status, had received more sex education from their parents, had greater knowledge about sexuality, had discussed sexuality with their mothers, and had higher aspirations than those who began having sex before age 16 (Pick & Palos, 1995;Rosen, Herskovitz, & Stack, 1982).…”