Transactions between the Big Five personality traits and first sexual experiences in adolescence and emerging adulthood

Abstract

The first experience of sexual intercourse can shape relationships, self-concept, and social status, making it a potentially important milestone for personality development. Yet, little is known about how personality traits relate to the timing of first intercourse or whether this experience is associated with subsequent personality changes. Using data from more than 5000 German adolescents (aged 14–19 years at baseline) followed for up to 10 years, we examined reciprocal associations between first intercourse and the Big Five personality traits. Extraverted youth were more than 80% more likely to have experienced intercourse at baseline and started about 7.5 months earlier than average, whereas agreeable and open youth experienced their first intercourse somewhat later. We also found some evidence for mean-level decreases in extraversion in the years following first intercourse, and distinct change patterns in openness depending on youth’s gender. The present findings highlight the predictive power of personality traits—and especially extraversion—for first intercourse and how this milestone can shape personality development. We discuss the results with regard to personality development and relationship theories, integrating sexual milestones into the study of life transitions and identity formation, while highlighting the dynamic interplay between individual traits and environmental influences.

Plain Language Summary

First sex is a big step for many people, but we do not know much about how it connects to personality. We asked two questions: Do personality traits predict when someone has sex for the first time? And does first sex relate to later changes in personality? We used data from over 5000 German adolescents and emerging adults who were 14–19 years old at the start of the study and were followed for up to 10 years. We examined how the Big Five traits relate to when participants first reported having sex. Youth who were more extraverted were more than 80% more likely to have already had sex at the start of the study, and they had first sex about 7.5 months earlier than average. In contrast, individuals who were more agreeable or more open tended to have first sex a bit later. We also found small signs of change in the years after first sex. Extraversion tended to decrease slightly over time, and openness showed different patterns for girls and boys. Overall, the results indicate a two-way link: Personality (especially extraversion) predicts the timing of first sex, and first sex is accompanied by small changes in personality. Our findings suggest that first sex can both reflect who people are and go along with small changes in who they become over time.