@article{ref1,
title="Defining virginity and abstinence: adolescents' interpretations of sexual behaviors",
journal="Journal of Adolescent Health",
year="2007",
author="Bersamin, Melina M. and Fisher, D. A. and Walker, S. and Hill, D. L. and Grube, J. W.",
volume="41",
number="2",
pages="182-188",
abstract="PURPOSE: The current study examined adolescent conceptualizations of virginity and abstinence and whether differences in adolescent definitions of these terms differed by age, gender, ethnicity, and sexual experience. METHODS: A series of logistic regressions were conducted to examine whether gender, age, ethnicity, and sexual experience predicted whether adolescents believed that an individual was still a virgin or abstinent after engaging in genital touching, oral sex, vaginal intercourse, or anal sex. RESULTS: Findings indicated that loss of virginity was linked primarily with vaginal and anal intercourse, while a greater proportion of adolescents attributed a loss of abstinence to other behaviors such as genital touching and oral sex as well. Sexual experience was the strongest predictor of how adolescents defined virginity and abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences exist in youths' definitions of abstinence and virginity. This suggests that additional attention is needed to ensure a common understanding of these terms to achieve successful sexual education and prevention programs.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1054-139X",
doi="10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.03.011",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.03.011"
}