First Date

Abstract

Studies indicate that most people begin dating around the ages of 13 to 15, but not much else is known about this important rite of passage that adolescents go through. This article reports on research designed to study the first date. The questionnaire, administered to 128 college students, asked them to respond to 15 questions about their first date when they were teenagers. The findings indicated that: (1) males asked the females out; (2) most individuals had a second date with that same person; (3) most were likely to attend a movie, go out to dinner, to a dance, or just ride around on their first date; (4) teenagers kiss and hold hands on their first date, but rarely go any further; (5) females were most often happy or scared on their first date, whereas males were either happy or awkward; and (6) parents usually approved of their off-springs' dating.