Interpersonal Context as an Influence on Sexual Timetables of Youths: Gender and Ethnic Effects

Abstract

We investigated whether the nature of the relationship with a partner (a serious vs. casual relationship) influences youths' sexual behaviors and attitudes. We asked 452 youths, ages 18–25, drawn from 4 ethnic groups (White, African American, Latino, and Asian American) about their own past sexual behavior (personal sexual timetables) and about acceptable ages for youths, in general, to engage in different sexual behaviors (normative sexual timetables). Students answered these questions twice: once when describing partners in a serious relationship and once when the partner was not well known. The results revealed that the interpersonal context had opposite effects on normative and personal timetables. Although sexual explorations were more acceptable with a serious partner, youth generally began sexual activities with a partner they did not know well. As predicted, the interpersonal context influenced the sexual timetables of White adolescents more than other groups, although only under certain conditions. Contrary to predictions, the effect on interpersonal context on sexual timetables was similar for both genders. Additionally, women had more restrictive timetables than men, and Asian American adolescents held more restricted timetables than other