THE RELIABILITY OF RETROSPECTIVE REPORT FOR TIMING FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE FOR ADOLESCENT MALES

Several recent studies have employed retrospective report of the timin g of events at adolescence, particularly of age at first sexual interc ourse. The value of such studies rests on the assumption of reliabilit y of the report of age on the occasion. The current study provides a t est of the reliability of report of age at first intercourse over rela tively short periods of time and consistency of reports of ever having engaged in intercourse. Subjects were an at-risk sample of approximat ely 200 adolescent boys in the Oregon Youth Study. Every year from Gra de 8 through Grade 11, subjects were asked if they had ever had sexual intercourse and when war the first time. Consistency of responses as to whether they had ever had intercourse was high. Report of age at fi rst intercourse, however appeared very unreliable. Behavioral factors were assessed for their possible association with unreliable date repo rting.