Psychosocial predictors of delay of first sexual intercourse by adolescents

This investigation predicted adolescents' delay of intercourse onset from a ttitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy about refraining from sexual inte rcourse. Age, gender, ethnicity, and parental education were also examined as predictors and moderators of the relationships among the 3 psychosocial determinants and onset. The participants (N = 827), part of a cohort initia lly surveyed in the 9th grade, reported at baseline that they had never eng aged in intercourse. The multivariable proportional hazards regression mode l suggested that adolescents with more positive attitudinal and normative b eliefs, as well as those with a parent who graduated from college, were les s Likely to engage in intercourse in the follow-up period (up to approximat ely 2 years). Interventions that include an objective to delay onset may be nefit from addressing psychosocial determinants, especially attitudes and n orms about sexual intercourse.