Adolescent Premarital Sexual Activity, Cohabitation, and Attitudes toward Marriage

• Published in: Adolescence Vol. 36; no. 143; pp. 601 - 609
• Main Authors: Martin, Paige D, Martin, Don, Martin, Maggie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Roslyn Heights, NY Libra Publishers 22-09-2001; Libra Publishers, Inc; Libra Publishers Incorporated
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Attitudes; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescents; Attitude; Attitude Measures; Attitudes; Beliefs; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Biological and medical sciences; Cohabitation; Couple and family; Divorce; Family (Sociological Unit); Family - psychology; Family Life; Female; Females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Behavior; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; Intimacy; Male; Marital Status; Marriage; Marriage and Family Education; Parent Role; Predictors; Premarital relationships; Premarital Sex; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Researchers; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Sexuality; Social psychology; Teenagers; Undergraduate Students; Unmarried couples; USA; Values; Young Adults; Young people; Youth; United States; Human; Belief; Cohabitation; Divorce; Attitude; Social interaction; Premarital relation; Adolescent; Sexual behavior; Marriage
• ISSN: 0001-8449

Societal trends indicate ambivalent attitudes about marriage, specifically a greater acceptance of divorce and nontraditional living arrangements. This paper examines adolescent attitudes toward marriage and their association with premarital sexual activity and cohabitation. Recommendations for helping adolescents understand the realities of marriage and family life are shared. (Author)