Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Premarital Sex and Marital Satisfaction of Middle Aged Men and Women: A Study of Married Lithuanian Couples

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate possible links between current marital satisfaction and age of onset of sexual intercourse, having an experience of premarital intercourse, the number of premarital sexual partners, and having an experience of premarital cohabitation. A convenience sample of subjects consisted of 41 middle-aged married Lithuanian couples. Marital satisfaction was measured by a 16-item Marital Satisfaction Scale developed by the principle investigators of this study. Results indicated no significant relationship between the experience of premarital sexual intercourse and marital satisfaction of men or women. However, men, who had more premarital partners and cohabitation experience, were less satisfied with their marriages. For women, younger onset of sexual activity and larger number of premarital partners was related to lower marital satisfaction.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkins, D. C., Baucom, D. H., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Understanding infidelity: Correlates in a national random sample. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 735–749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, J. S., & Axinn, W. G. (1998). Gender role attitudes and marriage among young women. Sociological Quarterly, 31, 11–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A. (2004). Quality of marriage remains steady. Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer‘s Medical Journal, 89, 18–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S. L. (2004). Moving from cohabitation to marriage: Effects on relationship quality. Social Science Research, 33, 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bumpass, L., & Lu, K. (2000). Trends in cohabitation and implications for children’s family contexts in the United States. Population Studies, 54, 29–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, L. M. (2001). The ambiguity of “having sex”: The subjective experience of virginity loss in the United States. The Journal of Sex Research, 38, 127–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denisenko, M. B., & Dalla, Zu Na (2001). Seksualnoe povedenie rossiskoi molodiozhi [Sexual behavior of Russian youth]. Sociologiya molodiozhi, 30, 83–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenman, R., & Dantzker, M. L. (2006). Gender and ethnic differences in sexual attitudes at a Hispanic-serving university. The Journal of General Psychology, 133, 153–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Else-Quest, N. M., Hyde, J. S., & DeLamater, J. (2005). Context counts: Long-term consequences of premarital intercourse or abstinence. The Journal of Sex Research, 42, 102–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerasimovič, N. (2005). Būsimų jaunavedžių požiūris į šeimos funkcijas ir pasiruošimą jas atlikti [Attitudes of Would-Be Newlyweds towards Family Functions and Readiness to Perform Them]. Vilnius: VPU.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, D. J., & Jencks, Ch. (2003). Changing attitudes toward premarital sex. Public Opinion Quarterly, 67, 211–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, J., Ramazanoglu, C., Sharpe, C., & Thomson, R. (2000). Deconstructing virginity: Young people’s accounts of first sex. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 15, 221–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong, S. -M. (1991). Gender difference in Australian attitudes towards premarital sex: A re-examination. Psychological Reports, 68, 418–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huston, T. L., Caughlin, J. P., Houts, R. M., Smith, S. E., & George, L. J. (2001). The connubial crucible: Newlywed years as predictors of marital delight, distress, and divorce. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 80, 237–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Imelinsky, K. (1980). Lytinio gyvenimo psichohigiena [Psychohygiene of sexual life]. Vilnius: Mokslas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaruševičienė, L. (2005). Jaunų žmonių lytinė elgsena [Sexual behavior of young people]. In L. Jaruševičienė, & L. Valius (Eds.), Jaunų žmonių lytinė ir reprodukcinė sveikata [Sexual and reproductive health of young people] (pp. 26–31). Kaunas: Vitae Litera.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J., & Bazzini, D. G. (2001). Gender sexual experience and the sexual double standard: Evolution of female contraceptive behavior. Sex Roles, 45, 785–799.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiernan, K. (2002). Cohabitation in Western Europe: Trends, issues, and implications. In A. Booth, & A. C. Crouter (Eds.), Just living together: Implications of cohabitation on families, children, and social policy (pp. 3–31). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline, G. H., Stanley, S. M., Markman, H. J., Olmos-Gallo, P. A., St.Peters, M., Whitton, S. W., et al. (2004). Timing is everything: Pre-engagement cohabitation and increased risk of poor marital outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 311–318.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kline-Rhoades, G., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Pre-engagement cohabitation and gender asymmetry in marital commitment. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 553–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreider, R. M., & Fields, J. M. (2002). Number, timing and duration of marriages and divorces: 1996. Current population reports. Washington D.C.: US Census Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Legkauskas, V., & Jakovlevaitė, V. (2005). Rizikingo seksualinio studentų elgesio ir jų psichosocialinių savybių ryšys [Relationship between risky sex behaviors and psychosocial characteristics of students]. Psichologija, 32, 35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lithuanian Department of Statistics (2006a). Demographic yearbook. Vilnius: Lithuanian Department of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lithuanian Department of Statistics (2006b). Population of Lithuania: Composition and demographic development. Vilnius: Lithuanian Department of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, P. D., Martin, D., & Martin, M. (2001). Adolescent premarital sexual activity, cohabitation, and attitudes toward marriage. Adolescence, 36, 601–609.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maslauskaitė, A. (2005). Tarpusavio santykių kokybė Lietuvos šeimose [Quality of relationships in Lithuanian families]. Sociologija: Mintis ir Veiksmas, 1, 122–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milhausen, R. R., & Herold, E. S. (1999). Does the sexual double standard still exist? Perception of university women. The Journal of Sex Research, 36, 361–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navaitis, G. (2003). Intymūs pokalbiai (Internete) [Intimate conversations (on the internet)]. Vilnius: Tyto Alba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noibert, R. (1971). Nauja knyga apie vedybinį gyvenimą [A new book about marital life]. Vilnius: Mintis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, M. B., & Hyde, J. S. (1993). Gender differences in sexuality: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 29–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rani, M., Figueroa, M. E., & Ainsle, R. (2003). The psychological context of young adult sexual behavior in Nicaragua: Looking through the gender lens. International Family Planning Perspectives, 29, 174–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, C. A. (1997). Factors associated with early sexual activity among urban adolescents. Social Work, 42, 334–346.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sprecher, S., & Hatfield, E. (1996). Premarital sexual standards among US college students: Comparison with Russian and Japanese students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25, 261–288.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stankūnienė, V. (1997). Šeima ir gimstamumas Lietuvoje [Family and birthrate in Lithuania]. Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of Sociology and Philosophy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolina, V. V., Romanova, T. L., & Butenko, G. B. (2004). Oprosnik udobletvorenosti brakom [Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire]. In D. J. Raygorodskyi (Ed.), Diagnostika Semyi: Metodiki i Testy [Family diagnostics: Methods and tests] (pp. 93–96). Samara: Bachrach.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teachman, J. (2002). Stability across cohorts in divorce risk factors. Demography, 39, 331–351.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teachman, J. (2003). Premarital sex, premarital cohabitation, and the risk of subsequent marital dissolution among women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 55, 444–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch, D. M., Lillard, L. A., Aneshensel, C. S., & Li, N. F. (2002). Inconsistencies in reporting the occurrence and timing of first sexual intercourse among adolescents. The Journal of Sex Research, 39, 197–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ustilaitė, S. (2000). Moksleivių pirmųjų lytinių santykių motyvai [Motives for first sexual relationships among school pupils]. Pedagogika, 42, 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellings, K., Collumbien, M., Slaymaker, E., Singh, S., Hodges, Z., Patel, D., & Bajos, N. (2006). Sexual behavior in context: A global perspective. The Lancet, 368, 1706–1728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, B. E., & Twenge, J. M. (2005). Changes in young people’s sexual behavior and attitudes, 1943–1999: A cross-temporal meta-analysis. Review of General Psychology, 3, 249–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, R., Qu, L., & de Vaus, D. (2003). Premarital cohabitation and marital stability. A paper presented at the HILDA Conference, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 13th March, 2003.

  • Widmer, E. D., Treas, J., & Newcomb, R. (1998). Attitudes toward nonmarital sex in 24 countries. The Journal of Sex Research, 35, 349–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, L. L., Martin, S. P., & Long, D. A. (2001). Comparing date and quality of fertility and first sexual intercourse histories. Journal of Human Resources, 36, 520–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zalytis, J. (1985). Meilės vardu [In the name of love]. Vilnius: Šviesa.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Psychology, Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaicio St. 52, 44244, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Visvaldas Legkauskas & Džeralda Stankevičienė

Authors
  1. Visvaldas Legkauskas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Džeralda Stankevičienė
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Visvaldas Legkauskas.

Appendix: Marital satisfaction scale

Appendix: Marital satisfaction scale

Table 10
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Legkauskas, V., Stankevičienė, D. Premarital Sex and Marital Satisfaction of Middle Aged Men and Women: A Study of Married Lithuanian Couples. Sex Roles 60, 21–32 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9497-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9497-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation