A SURVEY OF SITUATIONAL FACTORS AT FIRST INTERCOURSE AMONG COLLEGE-STUDENTS

This study of university students investigated the circumstances surro unding their loss of virginity. Females were significantly more likely than males to discuss with their partner the prospect of having sex b efore intercourse actually occurred; be involved in a dating relations hip; consider themselves to be ''in love'' with their partner; feel pr essured by their partner to have intercourse; regret having intercours e soon afterwards; and on looking back, wish that they had not lost th eir virginity at that time. Both genders reported only mediocre rating s of emotional and physical satisfaction, and those students who repor ted experiencing ''meaningful'' sex education at middle or high school before losing their virginity were significantly more likely to delay sexual debut than were those students who had not received sex educat ion. Recommendations for the inclusion of this type of data in sex edu cation programming is suggested in order to balance the more glamorous sexuality messages often portrayed in the popular media.