Defining virginity and abstinence: adolescents' interpretations of sexual behaviors

J Adolesc Health. 2007 Aug;41(2):182-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.03.011.

Abstract

Purpose: The current study examined adolescent conceptualizations of virginity and abstinence and whether differences in adolescent definitions of these terms differed by age, gender, ethnicity, and sexual experience.

Methods: A series of logistic regressions were conducted to examine whether gender, age, ethnicity, and sexual experience predicted whether adolescents believed that an individual was still a virgin or abstinent after engaging in genital touching, oral sex, vaginal intercourse, or anal sex.

Results: Findings indicated that loss of virginity was linked primarily with vaginal and anal intercourse, while a greater proportion of adolescents attributed a loss of abstinence to other behaviors such as genital touching and oral sex as well. Sexual experience was the strongest predictor of how adolescents defined virginity and abstinence.

Conclusions: Significant differences exist in youths' definitions of abstinence and virginity. This suggests that additional attention is needed to ensure a common understanding of these terms to achieve successful sexual education and prevention programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Sexual Abstinence / psychology*
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminology as Topic*