Sociodemographic correlates of virginity in seventh-grade black and Latinostudents

Purpose: To examine rates of virginity in seventh-grade black and Latino st udents and assess the extent to which various sociodemographic factors are correlated with virginity. Methods: A total of 523 seventh-grade students from five junior high school s and one middle school in the District of Columbia completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. Students responded to questions about age at first intercourse, demographics, grades, educational expectations, and r isk behaviors. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the independent strength of the association of these variables with virginity. Results: Eighty-one percent of girls and 44% of boys reported never having had sexual intercourse, i.e., being virgins. Black and Latino students were equally as likely to report being virgins. Younger age and absence of othe r risk behaviors, including smoking and alcohol use, were associated with v irginity for males and females. For boys, reporting high academic achieveme nt and living with both parents was significantly correlated with virginity and appeared to be protective. Conclusions: Although prevalent particularly in seventh-grade black and Lat ino boys, sexual activity was clearly associated with other risk behaviors in both boys and girls. Sociodemographic correlates of virginity were gende r-specific. School-based efforts to delay the onset of initiation of sexual activity in high-risk populations should be targeted at boys 12 years and younger with interventions which are gender-specific. This study underscore s a need to examine correlates of virginity to generate practical approache s to prevention of early sexual activity. (C) Society for Adolescent Medici ne, 1999.