The Relationship of First Intercourse to Later Sexual Functioning Concerns of Adolescents

Abstract

First intercourse is often viewed as a pivotal behavior. The present study was designed to examine the relationship of factors from the first inter course experience to later sexual functioning concerns of adolescents. The sample was composed of college-aged women (N = 412) and men (N = 261) who completed a comprehensive, self-report questionnaire. Chi-square analysis indicated that trends in adolescent sexual behavior identified in the 1960s and 1970s were continuing, if not accelerating, in the 1980s. Gender convergence was found for many aspects of first coitus. An increase in reported sexual functioning concerns of young people was also found. Analysis of covariance indicated that factors representing the affective dimensions of first intercourse (i.e., relation ship with partner, major reason for engaging in coitus, and evaluation of experience) were significantly related to more sexual functioning con cerns than the structural factor of age at first coitus.