Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Predictors of the Timing of Sexual Intercourse Initiation among Adolescents in South Korea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While the age of sexual intercourse initiation has decreased in South Korea, its correlates have not been identified using a nationally representative sample. This study investigated the predictors of the timing of sexual intercourse initiation among high school students in South Korea. A total of 10,810 students in the twelfth grade were selected from the Youth Health Behavior Online Survey (2016), and their data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and survival analysis. Approximately 11.6% of boys and 5.1% of girls reported having sexual intercourse. Significant predictors of the timing of sexual intercourse initiation among male students were the presence of parents, living with their family, socioeconomic status, grade of alcohol consumption initiation, grade of smoking initiation, and school type. Except for school type, the same results were found for girls. Sex education that targets high risk groups using the factors identified in this study may be effective in influencing positive changes in behavioral outcomes, such as delayed initiation of sex.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bozon, M., & Kontula, O. (1997). Initiation sexuelle et genre: comparaison des évolutions de douze pays européens. [Sexual initiation and gender: a comparison of trends in twelve European countries]. Population, 52(6), 1367–1400. https://doi.org/10.2307/1534632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Statistics Korea. 2016 Korea youth statistics [Internet]. Seoul: Statistics Korea. 2016 [cited 2017 Nov 5]. Available from: http://kostat.go.kr/wnsearch/search.jsp.

  3. Lee, G. (2016). Sexual behaviors and sexual experience of adolescents in Korea. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial Cooperation Society, 17(12), 71–80. https://doi.org/10.5762/KAIS.2016.17.12.71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Finer, L. B., & Philbin, J. M. (2013). Sexual initiation, contraceptive use, and pregnancy among young adolescents. Pediatrics, 131(5), 886–891. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-3495.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Lammers, C., Ireland, M., Resnick, M., & Blum, R. (2000). Influences on adolescents’ decision to postpone onset of sexual intercourse: a survival analysis of virginity among youths aged 13 to 18 years. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 26(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(99)00041-5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. O’Donnell, L., O’Donnell, C. R., & Stueve, A. (2001). Early sexual initiation and subsequent sex-related risks among urban minority youth: the reach for health study. Family Planning Perspectives, 33(6), 268–275. https://doi.org/10.2307/3030194.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Miller, B. C., & Fox, G. L. (1987). Theories of adolescent heterosexual behavior. Journal of Adolescent Research, 2(3), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.1177/074355488723007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Miller, B. C., & Sneesby, K. R. (1988). Educational correlates of adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 17(6), 521–530. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537829.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. French, D. C., & Dishion, T. J. (2003). Predictors of early initiation of sexual intercourse among high-risk adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 23(3), 295–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431603254171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Chang, S. B., Kim, S., Han, I. Y., Park, Y. J., Kang, H. C., & Lee, S. K. (2001). Sexual behavior and related factors of coitus of teenage girls in Korea. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 31(5), 921–931. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2001.31.5.921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim, M. J. (2003). A study on the factors causing the female adolescent sexual activity: focused on the peer group’s sexual experiences, social support and coping. Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association, 14(6), 63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kwon, H. J., Kim, K. H., Choi, M. H., & Kim, H. Y. (2006). A study on the variables forecasting female adolescent’s sexual intercourse. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15(2), 170–178.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Han, S. H., Kim, J. J., & Choe, M. J. (2002). Effected factors on initiating sexual activity among Korean young adults. Journal of the Korean Society of Health Statistics, 27(1), 21–36.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kann, L., Kinchen, S., Shanklin, S. L., et al. (2014). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States 2013. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(4), 1–172.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Singh, S., Wulf, D., Samara, R., & Cuca, Y. P. (2000). Gender differences in the timing of first intercourse: data from 14 countries. International Family Planning Perspectives, 26(1), 21–28. https://doi.org/10.2307/2648286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ju, J. S. (2015). Libertarian sex and sexual self determination. The Journal of Asian Women, 54(1), 7–36.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gwon, S. H., & Lee, C. Y. (2015). Factors that influence sexual intercourse among middle school students: using data from the 8th (2012) Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 45(1), 76–83. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.1.76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Nik Farid, N. D., Che’ Rus, S., Dahlui, M., Al-Sadat, N., Che’Rus, S., Dahlui, M., & Al-Sadat, N. (2003). Determinants of sexual intercourse initiation among incarcerated adolescents: a mixed-method study. Singapore Medical Journal, 54(12), 695–701. https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2013244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Helfand, M. (2008). Ten years of longitudinal research on U.S. adolescent sexual behavior: developmental correlates of sexual intercourse, and the importance of age, gender and ethnic background. Developmental Review, 28(2), 153–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.06.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Blum, R. W., Beuhring, T., Shew, M. L., Bearinger, L. H., Sieving, R. E., & Resnick, M. D. (2000). The effects of race/ethnicity, income, and family structure on adolescent risk behaviors. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1879–1884. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.90.12.1879.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Koh, Y. J., Kim, Y., & Noh, J. (2000). Contribution of behavioral disturbance, peer acceptance and friendship to the self-perceived social competence in Korean elementary-school children. Korean Journal of Psychology: Development, 13(2), 65–78.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Waldron, M., Doran, K. A., Bucholz, K. K., Duncan, A. E., Lynskey, M. L., Madden, P. A. F., & Heath, A. C. (2015). Parental separation, parental alcoholism, and timing of first sexual intercourse. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56, 550–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.01.011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Dong-A University research fund.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, Dong-A University, 32 Daesingongwon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan, 49201, South Korea

    Jung Hee Yeo & Eun-Young Kim

  2. Department of Nursing, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

    Hyunjeong Park

Authors
  1. Jung Hee Yeo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hyunjeong Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eun-Young Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eun-Young Kim.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Institutional Review Board of D institution (IRB No. 2–****–201,712-*–057-02).

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yeo, J.H., Park, H. & Kim, EY. Predictors of the Timing of Sexual Intercourse Initiation among Adolescents in South Korea. J Community Health 44, 580–586 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-00605-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-00605-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation