SEXUAL DECISION-MAKING AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Data from the South Carolina School/Community Program for Sexual Risk Reduction Among Teens were analyzed to determine direct and indirect e ffects of demographic and psychosocial factors on female adolescents' decisions to engage or not engage in premarital sexual intercourse. Th e Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior provided a framework to explain the interrelationships among the variables. Age, family struct ure, peer influence, commitment to partner, and sexual attitudes had d irect effects on premarital sexual intercourse. Race, religiosity, sex role attitude, reproductive knowledge, and parent-adolescent communic ation had indirect effects on premarital sexual intercourse.