The Incidence of Premarital Sex among Taiwanese Young People from Late Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Chi Chiao, National Yang Ming University
Chin-Chun Yi, Academia Sinica

We used longitudinal data from Taiwan Youth Project in 2004-2006 (N=1,215) to examine the incidence of premarital sex among never-married youth from age 20 to 22. Possible effects of own behaviors and peer influence (dating experience, exposure to pornography, peers' sexual experience) versus ideology and structural context (value for premarital sex, school attendance) are compared and delineated. Analyses show that one-fifths of the sample who never had sexual intercourse in 2004 reported having sex in 2006, with the incidence levels higher among males (26%) than among females (15%). Preliminary results from logistic regression models indicate that dating experience and endorsement of premarital sex are associated with increased likelihood of premarital sex. But continuous school attendance contributes to the lower likelihood of premarital sex. Exposure to pornography and peers' sexual experience produce different effects by gender. Findings are discussed and its implication to sexual health programs for young people is proposed.