Factors Influencing Intention of Sexual Abstinence Among Female College Students Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the factors that impact the intention of sexual abstinence among female college students. The approach was based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior and the parent-adolescent communication of contextual factors. METHODS: A total of 189 female university students in the first to fourth grades at two universities in Honam region participated in the study. The collected data were analyzed using hierarchical stepwise multiple regression using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: The major factor that influences the intention of sexual abstinence among female college students was attitudes toward sexual behavior (β=0.53, p<0.001). Other factors, in descending order of their impact, were subjective norms toward friends (β=0.25, p<0.001), experience of sexual intercourse (β=−0.19, p<0.001), and subjective norms toward parents (β=0.09, p=0.040). Taken together, the aforementioned factors explained 81.1 % of the total variance. CONCLUSION: Female college students' intention to abstain from sexual behaviors requires education promoting moderate and conservative positions. The participants' subjective norms concerning sexual behaviors as perceived by friends and parents were also important. The results of this study provide meaningful implications for education of parents, sexual education of female college students, and sexual counseling programs.