Predictors of Sexual Activity

The findings of leading abstinence education researcher, Stan Weed, Ph.D., provide an outline of attitudes and beliefs that predict behavioral intention regarding sexual activity, a strong predictor of actual behavior.

Behavioral intention is determined by:

1. Asking individuals how they would behave in various scenarios and
2. Surveying individuals’ attitudes and beliefs on a number of constructs, which viewed as a whole, are reliable predictors of behavioral intention.

Examples of number 1:

• "If someone did want you to have sexual intercourse with them during the next year, what would you do?"
• "How likely do you think it is that you will have sexual intercourse at any time before you get married?"

Examples of number 2:

Sexual Values-The following four constructs are subsets of this one.

• Affirmation of abstinence
• Justification of sex
• Rejection of permissiveness
• Sex proves

Personal efficacy

"If you were going out with someone you really liked and did not want to have sex:

• "How sure are you that you could stick with your decision not to have sex?"
• "How sure are you that you would avoid getting into a situation that might lead to sex?"
• "How sure are you that you could explain your reasons if you girl/boyfriend pushes you to have sex?"
• "How sure are you that you could stop seeing your girl/boyfriend if he/she continues to pressure you to have sex?"

Peer Factors

• "Sometimes other kids talk me into doing things I know I shouldn't do."
• "My close friends think it is ok for unmarried people to have sexual intercourse."
• "It is not worth going against your own standards in order to be accepted."

Opportunity -has to do with whether the person thinks they could have sexual intercourse if they wanted to.

Future Orientation

• "Having sex as a teenager would interfere with the goals I have set for myself."
• "I have clear and definite ideas about why I should wait until marriage to have sex."
• "Having sex now would not affect my future goals."

Marriage Context

• "The best sex occurs within marriage."
• "Sex is a good thing, and best when it occurs within marriage."
• "Having sex now would not affect my future goals."

**These constructs are presented in approximate order of importance. However, the critical thing is to view them as a whole. Programs cannot be successful without effectively addressing multiple constructs.