Determinants of Sexual Behaviour

Abstract

A sample of 247 college students were surveyed regarding their experiences of consensual sexual experiences below age 16; experiences of ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ relationships; experiences of lifetime sexual activity and sexual orientation. By age 16, 12 per cent of respondents have had intercourse. Males are one and half to two times more likely than females to report sexual experiences below age 16. Those with urban origins are significantly more likely to report having had sexual experiences before age 16 than those with rural origins. The period 18–20 is characterised by short term dating, leading to much longer lasting relationships in the 21+ age category. For 18–20 year olds, 50.5 per cent report having had sexual intercourse (57 per cent of males and 47.7 per cent of females). Respondents from Dublin city or county are more likely to report having had sexual intercourse than those from a rural/farm background (64 percent and 39 per cent respectively). A surprising trend was the apparently chaste nature of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships in the 18–20 age group. This study examined only sexual experiences. Further research is required to examine the relationship contexts of various sexual experiences.