Premarital Sexual Pathways and Relationship Development

Abstract

Fifty-four dating couples were interviewed in an investigation of the interrelationship of premarital sexual intimacy and relationship development. Using a cluster analytic procedure, the couples were divided into sexual pathway groups based on the developmental progression of their sexual involvement over four points in time (first date, casually dating, considering becoming a couple, and the `couple' stage of dating). The cluster analysis resulted in four pathway types: (a) `rapid-involvement' couples, (b) `gradual-involvement' couples, (c) `delayed-involvement' couples, and (d) `low-involvement' couples. Comparisons between individuals who followed the different sexual pathways on selected relationship dimensions revealed that couples reportedly experienced significant increases in conflict as they approached orgasmically-oriented sexual activity.