Premarital Sexual Experience among College Females, 1958, 1968, and 1978

Abstract

Report of a replication of studies of premarital coitus among U.S. College women in 1958 and 1968. The 1978 findings show a continued increase in the percentage of women having premarital sexual experiences at the stages of dating going steady and engagement. Some premarital sexual experience appears to be common to a definite majority of college educated women. Sanctions against this experience seem to have been greatly reduced and the reasons which had previously restricted premarital coitus now have much less impact. The authors believe that when this university population is sampled again in 1988 the rates of premarital coitus will have continued to increase. (Authors modified)