Room 518 | Sexuality and Relationships Tuesday, July 12, 2005 Time: 8:30 AM-10:30 AM |
The First Time: Planning, Decision-Making, and Impact of FCE.
Humphreys, Terry *,1, Ressor, Alyna2, 1 Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada2 University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- The first coital experience (FCE), commonly referred to as loss of virginity, is a key event in the sexual development of young people and it has the potential to be positive and pleasurable. At the same time, the emotional readiness of younger teens (Herold & Marshall, 1996) as well as the risks of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections are concerns for FCE (Koyle, Jensen, & Olsen, 1989; Maticka-Tyndale, Barrett, & McKay, 2000). Carpenter (2001) used in-depth interviews to investigate how individuals understood their virginity status and described three interpretational frames: (1) those who perceived their virginity as a stigma or burden, (2) those who perceived it as a precious gift, and (3) those who perceived it as a process or stage of maturity and development. Carpenter (2001) reported descriptive difference among the three interpretations including gender differences, communication patterns, relationship with partner, and satisfaction with the outcome of FCE. The main objectives of this study were to quantify Carpenter's (2001) findings and to expand them by exploring decision-making and attachment styles. Data were collected from 73 Canadian undergraduates using an on-line survey (more participants are being run). The survey included measures of Carpenter's interpretational frames, level of communication and planning for FCE, feelings following FCE, contraceptive use, decision-making and attachment style. Forty-three percent of the sample perceived their virginity status as a process, 31% as a gift and 12% as a stigma. No gender differences were found. Compared to the process and gift groups, the stigma group more often reported their FCE partner as a stranger/acquaintance and their FCE relationship as less loving and of shorter duration prior to and following FCE. Significant differences were found between the three interpretational frames and levels of communication, planning, and decision-making prior to FCE. Both the process and gift groups reported their FCE has having a more positive impact on their lives than the stigma group. Attachment style was unrelated to interpretational frame, but was significantly related to communication patterns, feelings following FCE and some decision-making elements. How individuals perceived their virginity status was significantly related to their communication, planning, and decision-making behaviours prior to and during FCE. These findings have important implications for sexual health educators and health promotion programs designed for youth.
Key words: first coitus, virginity loss, adolescence, affective reaction, communication