Abstract
Prior research has pointed to several distinct processes that may affect the timing of first intercourse among adolescents. In the present study, the role of six hypothesized processes was assessed in a sample of 289 rural adolescent boys and girls. Results support the importance of family socialization and problem-behavior for both sexes, the role of biological factors for boys, and the role of social control processes for girls. Two other hypothesized influences—social class and poor psychosocial adjustment—were not supported in either gender. These results indicate that multiple processes influence the timing of first intercourse; thus, they underscore the need for eclectic predictive models that incorporate the multiplicity of influences.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, C. S., Ensminger, M. E., Kim, Y. J., Smith, B. J., Johnson, K. E., and Dolan, L. J. (1989). Early sexual activity among adolescents in small towns and rural areas: Race and gender patterns.Family Plan. Perspect. 21: 261–266.
Baltes, P. B. (1968). Longitudinal and cross-sectional sequences in the study of age and generational effects.Human Develop. 11: 145–171.
Bingham, C. R. (1989). AIDS and adolescents: Threat of infection and approaches for prevention.J. Early Adoles. 9: 50–66.
Bingham, C. R., Miller, B. C., and Adams, G. R. (1990). Correlates of age at first sexual intercourse in a national sample of young women.J. of Adoles. Res. 5: 18–33.
Chilman, C. S. (1986). Some psychosocial aspects of adolescent sexual and contraceptive behaviors in a changing American society. In Lancaster, J. B., and Hamburg, B. A. (eds.),School-Age Pregnancy and Parenthood: Biosocial Dimensions. Aldine de Gruyter, New York.
Crockett, L. J. (1993). Early adolescent family formation. In Lerner, R. M. (ed.),Early Adolescence: Perspectives on Research, Policy and Intervention. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.
Crockett, L. J., and Bingham, C. R. (1994).Family influences on girls' sexual experience and pregnancy risk. Manuscript under review.
Crockett, L. J., Schulenberg, J. E., and Petersen, A. C. (1987). Congruence between objective and self-report data in a sample of young adolescents.J. Adoles. Res. 2(4): 383–392.
D'Augelli, A., and Bingham, C. R. (1993). Intervention to prevent HIV infection in young adolescents. In Lerner, R. M. (ed.),Early Adolescence: Perspectives on Research, Policy and Intervention. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.
DiBlasio, F. A., and Benda, B. B. (1990). Adolescent sexual behavior: Multivariate analysis of a social learning model.J. Adoles. Res. 5: 449–466.
Dubas, J. S., Graber, J. A., and Petersen, A. C. (1991). A longitudinal investigation of adolescents' changing perceptions of pubertal timing.Develop. Psych. 27(4): 580–586.
East, P. L., Felice, M. E., and Morgan, M. C. (1993). Sisters' and girlfriends' sexual and child-bearing behavior: Effects on early adolescent girls' sexual outcomes.J. Marriage Family, 55: 953–963.
Fox, G. L. (1981). The family's role in adolescent sexual behavior. In Ooms, T. (ed.),Teenage Pregnancy in a Family Context: Implications for Policy. Temple University Press, Philadelphia, PA.
Handler, A. (1990). The correlates of the initiation of sexual intercourse among young urban black females.J. Youth Adoles. 19: 159–170.
Hayes, C. D. (ed.). (1987).Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing (Vol. 1). National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Hirschi, T. (1969).Causes of Delinquency. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Hofferth, S. L. (1987). Factors affecting initiation of sexual intercourse. In Hofferth, S. L. and Hayes, C. D. (eds.),Risking the Future: Adolescent Sexuality, Pregnancy, and Childbearing (Vol. 2): Working Papers and Statistical Appendices. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Hogan, D., and Kitagawa, E. (1985). The impact of social status, family structure and neighborhood on the fertility of black adolescents.Am. J. Sociol. 90: 825–855.
Jessor, R. (1984). Adolescent development and behavioral health. In Matarazzo, J. D., Weiss, S. M., Herd, J. A., Miller, N. E., and Weiss, S. M. (eds.),Behavioral Health: A Handbook of Health Enhancement and Disease Prevention. Wiley, New York.
Jessor, R., and Jessor, S. L. (1977).Problem Behavior and Psychosocial Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth. Academic Press, New York.
Jessor, S. L., and Jessor, R. (1975). Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social-psychological study over time.Develop. Psych. 11(4): 473–484.
Jessor, R., Costa, F., Jessor, S. L., and Donovan, J. E. (1983). Time of first intercourse: A prospective study.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 44: 608–628.
Jones, E. F., Forrest, J. D., Goldman, N., Henshaw, S., Lincoln, R., Rosoff, J. I., Westoff, C. F., and Wulf, D. (1986).Teenage Pregnancy in Industrialized Countries. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.
Kinnaird, K. L., and Gerrard, M. (1986). Premarital sexual behavior and attitudes toward marriage and divorce among young women as a function of their mothers' marital status.J. Marriage Family 48: 757–765.
Magnusson, D. (1988).Individual development from an interactional perspective: A longitudinal study. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.
Miller, B. C., and Bingham, C. R. (1989). Family configuration in relation to the sexual behavior of female adolescents.J. of Marriage Family 51: 499–506.
Miller, B. C., and Fox, G. L. (1987). Theories of adolescent heterosexual behavior.J. Adoles. Res. 2(3): 269–282.
Miller, B. C., and Sneesby, K. R., (1988). Educational correlates of adolescents' sexual attitudes and behavior.J. Youth Adolesc. 17: 521–530.
Newcomer, S. F., & Udry, J. R. (1984). Mother's influence on the sexual behavior of their teenage children.J. Marriage Family 45: 477–485.
Newcomer, S., and Udry, J. R. (1987). Parental marital status effects on adolescent sexual behavior.J. Marriage Family 49: 235–240.
Ohannessian, C. M., and Crockett, L. J. (1992).A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between educational investment and adolescent sexual activity. Unpublished manuscript, under review.
Petersen, A. C., Schulenberg, J. E., Abramowitz, R. H., Jarcho, H., and Offer, D. (1984). A self-image questionnaire for young adolescents (SIQYA): Reliability and validity studies.J. Youth Adolesc. 13: 93–111.
Philliber, S. G. (1980). Socialization for childbearing.J. Social Issues 36: 30–44.
Rosenberg, M. (1965).Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
Schaie, K. W. (1965). A general model for the study of developmental patterns.Psychol. Bull. 64: 92–107.
Scott-Jones, D., and White, A. B. (1990). Correlates of sexual activity in early adolescence.J. Early Adolesc. 10: 221–238.
Sonnenstein, F. L., Pleck, J. H., and Ku, L. C. (1989). Sexual activity, condom use and AIDS awareness among adolescent males.Family Plan. Perspect. 21: 152–158.
Stattin, D., and Magnusson, D. (1990).Pubertal maturation in female development. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.
Swisher, J. (1979).Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude and Usage Scale (PPAAUS). Author, State College, PA.
Swisher, J., Shute, R. E., and Bibeau, D. (1984). Assessing drug and alcohol abuse: An instrument for planning and evaluation.Measure. Evaluat. Counsel. Develop. 17: 91–97.
Udry, J. R., & Billy, J. O. G. (1987). Initiation of coitus in early adolescence.Am. Sociol. Rev. 52: 841–855.
Udry, J. R., Billy, J. O. G., Morris, N. M., Groff, T. R., and Raj, M. H. (1985). Serum androgenic hormones motivate sexual behavior in adolescent boys.Fertil. Steril. 43(1): 90–94.
Udry, J. R., Talbert, L. M., and Morris, N. M. (1986). Biosocial foundations for adolescent female sexuality.Demography 23(2): 217–228.
Vincent, M. L., Clearie, A. F., and Schlucter, M. D. (1987). Reducing adolescents pregnancy through school and community-based education.J. A. M. A. 257: 3382–3386.
Zelnik, M., and Shah, F. K. (1983). First intercourse among young Americans.Family Plan. Perspec. 15(2): 64–70.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Chicago. Current research interests include adolescent psychosocial development and risk behaviors.
Received Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University. Current research interests include adolescent sexuality and health-related behaviors.
Received Ph.D. in Health Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Current research interests include adolescent health.
Received Ph.D. in Education from The Pennsylvania State University. Current interests include adolescent substance abuse and pregnancy, as well as community health interventions.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crockett, L.J., Raymond Bingham, C., Chopak, J.S. et al. Timing of first sexual intercourse: The role of social control, social learning, and problem behavior. J Youth Adolescence 25, 89–111 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537382
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537382