| Abstract: | Longitudinal psychosocial data were used to predict the transition from virginity to nonvirginity among 430 7th–9th graders, all of whom were virgins at the initial testing in 1970. By the most recent follow-up in 1979, 93% reported having had sexual intercourse. Variation in time of onset of initial intercourse was categorized into 6 time periods and served as the main criterion variable in the study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that antecedent measures of personality, the perceived environment, and behavior were predictive of variation in time of onset and, taken together, accounted for approximately 30% of the criterion variance. Results support the utility of the problem-behavior-theory framework and show onset of sexual intercourse to be a systematic aspect of psychosocial development in adolescence. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
