Investigation of nursing students' perceptions and protective approaches to premarital sexual experience and virginity by sex

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine Turkish nursing students’ perceptions and protective behaviors regarding premarital sexual intercourse and virginity by sex. The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design and was performed with 988 nursing students. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Although male students have more sexual experiences before marriage, they give importance to virginity to the person they will marry and approve the hymen examination. Boy students were found to prefer having anal or oral sex or rubbing or touching genitals so as not to harm the hymen compared to girl students. There were significant differences among university students by sex in terms of starting premarital sexual activity, having sexual experiences, perceptions about virginity, and resorting to protective approaches. There were significant differences among university students by sex in terms of starting premarital sexual activity, having sexual experiences, perceptions about virginity, and resorting to protective approaches. This shows that different responsibilities are imposed on the sexes about sexual experience culturally.