Factors Associated with the Timing of First Sexual Intercourse Among College Students in Busan, Korea / 대한남성과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to predict when college students in Korea have their first sexual intercourse and to explore the factors associated with the timing of first sexual intercourse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data are collected by using self-report survey toward total 797 of male and female college students who are currently attending the college in Busan, Korea. Students were divided by four groups according to their age of timing of first sexual intercourse, <16 years, between 16 to under 19, over 19 years and non-experienced. To examine the difference of four groups, Chi-square test and ANOVA (analysis of variance) were used. For estimation of the timing of first sexual intercourse we used Kaplan-Meier estimation and for differences of each group we used log-rank test. To identify the factors associated with the timing of first sexual intercourse we used Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 41.4% of college students have experienced sexual intercourse. Of four groups the early sexual intercourse group (<16 years) had high rate of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, drug use, open sexual attitude, and a high number of sex partner. The factors associated with the timing of first sexual intercourse among college students was identified male, open parents attitude about sex, pornography experiences, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking. CONCLUSIONS: This study predicts the timing of first sexual intercourse among college students in Korea. Early sexual debut is an important indicator for continued risk behavior regarding reproductive health.