DETERMINANTS AND EFFECTS OF WAITING TIME TO COITUS

Nonuse of contraception at first intercourse among adolescents is well documented in the adolescent sexuality research literature. This stud y provides a formal test of the hypothesis that an increase in the cou rtship period (i.e., waiting time to intercourse) increases the likeli hood that a couple will discuss contraception and use it at first inte rcourse. The data analyzed are from personal interviews with 1,314 wom en aged 20-29 in the 1983 National Survey of Unmarried Women. The resu lts are mixed about the effect of waiting time on contraceptive behavi or, providing weak support for the hypothesis, but also elucidating in dividual and relative characteristics of the couples, such as age and education of the respective partners, that affected contraceptive beha vior at first intercourse. Support for the hypothesis may prove more r obust in data with different characteristics from the survey used here .