The Reliability of Retrospective Report for Timing First Sexual Intercourse for Adolescent Males

Abstract

Several recent studies have employed retrospective report of the timing of events at adolescence, particularly of age atfirst sexual intercourse. The value of such studies rests on the assumption of reliability of the report of age on the occasion. The current study provides a test of the reliability of report of age atfirst intercourse over relatively short peniods of time and consistency of reports of ever having engaged in intercourse. Subjects were an at-risk sample of approximately 200 adolescent boys in the Oregon Youth Study. Every yearfrom Grade 8 through Grade 11, subjects were asked if they had ever had sexual intercourse and when was thefirst time. Consistency of responses as to whether they had ever had intercourse was high. Report of age at first intercourse, however, appeared very unreliable. Behavioralfactors were assessedfor their possible association with unreliable date reporting.