Premarital Sex: Almost Everyone's Doing It

Study Shows More Than 90 Percent Of Americans Have Had Premarital Sex, Even Older Generations

(AP)  More than nine out of 10 Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex, according to a new study. The high rates extend even to women born in the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people were more chaste in the past.

"This is reality-check research," said the study's author, Lawrence Finer. "Premarital sex is normal behavior for the vast majority of Americans, and has been for decades."

Finer is a research director at the Guttmacher Institute, a private New York-based think tank that studies sexual and reproductive issues and which disagrees with government-funded programs that rely primarily on abstinence-only teachings. The study, released Tuesday, appears in the new issue of Public Health Reports.

The study, examining how sexual behavior before marriage has changed over time, was based on interviews conducted with more than 38,000 people — about 33,000 of them women — in 1982, 1988, 1995 and 2002 for the federal National Survey of Family Growth. According to Finer's analysis, 99 percent of the respondents had had sex by age 44, and 95 percent had done so before marriage.

Even among a subgroup of those who abstained from sex until at least age 20, four-fifths had had premarital sex by age 44, the study found.

Finer said the likelihood of Americans having sex before marriage has remained stable since the 1950s, though people now wait longer to get married and thus are sexually active as singles for extensive periods.

The study found women virtually as likely as men to engage in premarital sex, even those born decades ago. Among women born between 1950 and 1978, at least 91 percent had had premarital sex by age 30, he said, while among those born in the 1940s, 88 percent had done so by age 44.

"The data clearly show that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal government's funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12- to 29-year-olds," Finer said.

Under the Bush administration, such programs have received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

"It would be more effective," Finer said, "to provide young people with the skills and information they need to be safe once they become sexually active — which nearly everyone eventually will."

Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defended the abstinence-only approach for teenagers.

"One of its values is to help young people delay the onset of sexual activity," he said. "The longer one delays, the fewer lifetime sex partners they have, and the less the risk of contracting sexually transmitted disease."

He insisted there was no federal mission against premarital sex among adults.

"Absolutely not," Horn said. "The Bush administration does not believe the government should be regulating or stigmatizing the behavior of adults."

Horn said he found the high percentages of premarital sex cited in the study to be plausible, and expressed hope that society would not look askance at the small minority that chooses to remain abstinent before marriage.

However, Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America, a conservative group which strongly supports abstinence-only education, said she was skeptical of the findings.

"Any time I see numbers that high, I'm a little suspicious," she said. "The numbers are too pat."

Leslee Unruh, who runs a South Dakota-based organization promoting abstinence-only education, contended that increasing numbers of young people were open to remaining chaste until marriage.

[agnim]

Is this topic really that noteworthy?

Or is it because they couldn't find a virgin Miss America?

Don't forget the drugs and the lesbianism; those are also part of the 'normal' American female life. LOL

[patriotic9]

What's wrong with that.THE BASIC ANIMAL NEEDS OF A HUMAN BEINGS ARE FOOD AND S-E-X.Should we become like those Mulims who keep their VIRGINITY till their wedding nights or those Muslim men who lower their gaze because according to their RADICAL BELIEVE it's dishonesty for a man to look at anybody else their wives or become like those Muslim women who cover their bodies as it's dishonesty for a muslim woman to show anypart of her body infront of any man else her husband.Do they have more FUN in their lives or we do.It's very easy to figure out by seeing who blows himself or herself up.

[agnim]

"Do they have more FUN in their lives or we do.It's very easy to figure out by seeing who blows himself or herself up.
Posted by patriotic9 at 07:52 PM : Dec 19, 2006"

They live a lot more dignified and less beastly lives though. WITH LESS DIVORCE AND LOST CHILDREN!

You don't see their women parading their holes to be entered all over cyberspace like the beasts of the fields, nor them being homos and the like. LOL

[lost_seraph]

This article must come as a shock to all you religious nuts out there, but I assure you the rest of the world has known about this forever.

Do they even need a so-called "study" to figure this out? I think one day in any high school in the world would have given them the same results.

Marriage isn't like a stepping stone in life anyway. It's just "legally" being attached to another person. If that's not bad then why is physically being attached to another person so wrong? We've been given a really twisted view of the reality of life thanks to the ways they teach us about *** in school.

[Jasonian18]

ya right this is also a study of a smaller group of the majority another test checking out the same thing came up with quite different results it was a 4 in 10 group not 9 go figure a democratic news group would portray such "correct" odds not to mention it is so disgusting most men honestly and some woman get kicks from having *** and then kicking the now dependant person to the curb just to see them beg also mr " they are just following their basic animal needs and instincts regarding food and ***" hello then you can't lock up any rapist or pedophile ever again my friend because accordingly guess what they are following their instincts you also can't lock up this mother who rented her daughter out and held her down while this guy name "Champion" molested her so let me ask you this how come their is a natural grotesqueness to the whole thing then?

[Jasonian18]

by the way he molested her over 200 times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jasonian18]

and people who don't care about premarital s-e-x are morons simply because none of you have read i believe it was American magazine or something like that which describes children growing up in gay homes lesbian or the like or growing up without a father or ect and by the way christians and other religious groups make up a very large majority and most of them say no premarital s-e-x now how can 9 10's of the people being doing something not even 9 10s of the people would do? doesn't even make sense granted i can't blame evolutionists and the like for raping murdering or molesting lil boys and girls after all they are just monkeys just "smarter" ones. want to be treated like animals instead of the second most important being of all time go ahead the rest of us will treat ya like animals want the scraps from my table? or perhaps you would like to go attack someone and me to put you down for fear of rabies?

[pakaal]

"not to mention it is so disgusting most men honestly and some woman get kicks from having s e x"

Jason_plo, I'm almost convinced not to even comment, but I have to tell you, there's really nothing disgusting about s e x, at least not to anyone who hasn't been brainwashed by some ultra-religious organization.

[nothappyatall]

lost_seraph- marriage is nothing but a state and Government entity designed to control property, wealth, estates, taxes, wills and so on, it's all about money and taxes as well as FEES the states rake in for marriage licenses (you ALSO need a license for your DOG by the way, coincidence?)
The state gets sales tax on wedding rings, the state ALSO gets tax off the dog license tags, coincidence?
You cant get married without a state granted license, a marriage does not have to be in a church either, it can be done at city hall.
This proves marriage was hijacked by the states and Govt for money and control. I say get the states the he11 out of the marriage business, give the stupid thing to the CHURCH and give civil union/whatever to whomever wants to pay the license FEE for their same *** partners, athiest partners, pets, whatever- it's ALL about fees and taxes anyway.

[pakaal]

Agnim, judging by your frequent posts on these issues, I'd say you'd be hard-pressed to recognize what a "normal" *** life is. And no, the extent of "normal" does NOT begin and end with the Missionary position.

[pakaal]

"I say get the states the he11 out of the marriage business, give the stupid thing to the CHURCH and give civil union/whatever to whomever wants to pay the license FEE for their same *** partners, athiest partners, pets, whatever- it's ALL about fees and taxes anyway."

Good one, newster1.

[shanev137]

This means all the "morally good" right-wing
Christians are sinning profusely and habitually.

No big shocker. LOL....fargin hypocrites.

Imagine sitting down with 33,000 women and discussing their *** life...Lawrence Finer, you lucky guy, how many did you of those did you get to sleep with?

[olgreyghost]

The only sinners in Paradise are forgiven sinners and all humans, because of our carnal nature, are sinners. G-d is in the forgiving business; that's how anyone gets to go to Paradise. There is a type He does not forgive: Those who don't forgive others...

[mlbarrett66]

Even if we were speaking in terms of 50% instead of the 90s, the abstinence only promoters have their heads in the sand.

A documentary film of a couple of years ago, called "The Education of Shelby Knox", focused on a Texas community that was pushing abstinence as the only form of *** education, but a high school student discovered that the town, Lubbock had some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in the country, so she took it upon herself to promote other forms of birth control, although she personally made a vow of abstinence until marriage. See http://www.incite-pictures.com/shelbyknox/film.html.

Times have changed because the role of women in society has changed. The %u201CScarlet Letter%u201D is no longer relevant. Men don%u2019t take two year sea voyages leaving their %u201Cwomen%u201D at home to take care of the family. Women are no longer married for good at age 16 or younger. Men still do what they do and women now have the right to join the crowd. Let's approach the promiscuity problem in an intelligent way instead of forgetting that we have a mind to think and a history that matters. The charlatans of intolerance should be replaced.

[fastrichard-2009]

Who writes this drivel? There is no information about sample size or how the sample was selected. There is no information about the questions or methodology used. The only detail about the study given is that they only looked at people who came of age during or after the "sexual revolution" of the 1960s, ie. since the advent of the birth control pill.

This looks like agenda driven junk science. Did CBS do any investigation of this claim? Or, did they simply print a press release from a political advocacy group?

[swiftyj1]

"Any time I see numbers that high, I'm a little suspicious," she said. "The numbers are too pat." Well of COURSE she's suspicious! She belongs to the Concerned Women for America! it's her JOB to poke her nose into everyone's bedrooms checking for wedding rings!

[olebd]

I think this has always been common knowledge, we just do a very poor job these days of keeping quiet about it.

I also question if we are meant to be monogamous with the same partner for life. That seems like such a long time. If humans were at least allowed occasional vacations from marriage, I think the divorce rate would plummet.

[gslinger3]

Thanks to MTV and the Hollywood left wing radical hippie spot smoking kooks out there, premarital *** is now envogue!

Oh and..........

MerryChristmas!!!!!
if that offends you....................too BAD!

[brackattack]

who really cares i could care less if people are having *** with out being married..its their choice their lives...let them enjoy it

[bluestardad]

And we needed some study by some Pin Heads to tell us this? How much money did we waste on this one?

[swiftyj1]

gslinger3 wrote, "Thanks to MTV and the Hollywood left wing radical hippie spot smoking kooks out there, premarital *** is now envogue!"

Maybe he should read the actual article...premarital relations have been going on well before the days of MTV or hippies...even before Elvis!

my problem is my girls. I have two daughters: 5 and 6. A boy called my 6 year old *** in school, repeatedly. How do you explain to such young people to respect their bodies and love themselves alongside a country that tells them *** sells?

I try to be open and honest with my girls, but even so, they say "when they think I'm not listening" that they can't wait to wear 'inappropriate clothes'. I'm just scared of making the wrong decision and this contries morals are not helping! Nor do I want to leave. I don't hate being an american (though I understand the bad things we've done)

How do you raise non promiscuous, mentally sane girls!!!!!

the word they took out was s*xy

[godseyesore-2009]

Nikosk1 said:"Who f*****n cares who screws whom and when???"
Well, evidently repunicans and god squads. Don't have a clue as to why they are so paranoid about being human.

[blackchild4]

The Bible and Santa Claus once were the only weapons against premarital se*.
Now that we have killed them off..... Is this really News.

[churchof1000]

"The Bush administration does not believe the government should be regulating or stigmatizing the behavior of adults." [Horn said.]

-This is a complete falsehood. It's laughably untrue, in fact.

[pseudotriton]

This great news should deal a blow to the Evagelicals. Now only if they fund a program to help those experiencing abstinence not by choice... Hahaha!

And to amerigirl28, if you think the notion "s*x sells" is an Aemrican phenomenom, you are so wrong. It's human nature, we are programs by millions of evolution to pursue s*x in every possible way. Only the self-righteous religious fanantics are trying to counteract this nature.

[fizzie319]

First off, I totally agree with Nikosk1...

I think that since we cant prevent people from having ***, might as well educate them as to how to practice having safe ***. As much as parents bicker and complain about how their youth is having *** at such a young age, their bickering and complaining is not changing anything.

Amerigirl28, I highly doubt skimpy clothes will have an effect on how soon they will start having ***. In my own opinion skimpy clothes are apart of "The Cute Factor." They will wear these types of clothes to fit in with the latest fashion styles of the other girls at their school. Them having *** will be the result of either peer pressure or shear desire to do so. Another thing to consider is the fact that if your girls want to have *** no rule or curfew that you set will stop them from having ***. They will become, if they haven't already, teenagers. If they want to do it, they will do it. Its your job as a parent to let them know your opinion on the subject, but make sure that you give them "Just in case" advise. The last thing you should do is give them an ultimatum.

[idunkwn41]

I have a 16 year old daughter who is beautiful and not just in a mothers opinion, she is a raining beauty queen. She has taken a vow of purity, of heart, mind, body and spirit.
She researched and studied this when she was 12 years old and we had a ceremony in which she signed a contract with her family to reamain pure
It isn't something other of her friends did or that has made her popular, on the dating scene but it is a conviction she believes in and stands by. There have been a few tears when a boy she likes tells her she either does or he is gone but she holds her ground and lets them know if they respect her as she does herself they will not push.
Amerigirl, the bottom line is this teach your daughters respect in themselves and respect for their bodies, that as parents it the best we can do the rest is up to them. However first we MUST respect ourselves, children learn what they see if you act the way you wish them to as they grow they will see and learn what your wishes are for them.

[angryliberal-2009]

Thankyou liberals! Your agenda is really making America better! Now we are teaching are children to have *** with whoever they want, male, female, married or not, as long as you dont get aids. Ummmm, does that sound like progress? That sounds like ingorant caveman/animal activity to me. Oh yeah and if you get pregnant from your animalistic behavior, just go ahead and kill the baby if you dot want it. Survival of the fittest, right? Thnakyou to all the liberals who have helped contrivute to this "progressive" culture that we now live in. I applaud you.

[kpokey]

I think this study is simply saying it happens. It's natural. Attempts at abstinance only education are not going to work, because abstinance is not natural. You are only putting people's lives and health in danger when you allow abstinance only education.

[unknwnid42]

You know it amazes me how you people make every *** thing a politcal format get off you soap box and figure out how to teach your family something, seems we would all be better off with a few more family values and morals taught at home. too many people worship the almighty dollar, I have heard nothing more then "I got my kid this for Christmas , or I got my kid that and it cost this much. I got my kids one present each and we will all be together that is the way they have been taught. Christmas isn't what you get at our home it is love and family maybe if we weren't so busy working to get everything the neighbors has and spent more time with our kids they wouldn't be messing around to get the attention they are missing at home

[pseudotriton]

ANGRYliberal you talk like s*x is something invented by liberals. Whereever you got that idea. Just look at all the s*x scandals all the Republican politicians have been having lately. At least Bill Clinton didn't try to solicit from a male intern. S*x is the most basic, universal instincts of all animals, inlcuding humans. (Like it or not, we are evolved from lower animal forms.) S*x is something almost all humans with adequate IQ will explore sooner or later, without being taught. Having intimate relationship with whoever you want rather than being confined by prejudice disguised as high morals, I would definitely call that "progress".

[frankbowers]

To all the parents lwho have signed statements from their childre n or just a pact theat *** is out. I would be the first to tell them in case it has not been said to them before, should you believe it you are the fool. They age premature grandparents. The best of good byes to those who admitts it the rest will some day own up to it or go to their grve just a common liar. the best of good days, from a bourn again Catholic.
;-)))))))))))) Frank Bowers in Austin, TX

[wamerritt]

This is really not news, it's to be expected. People who don't know GOD can't do anything but break his laws. And I guess it's no wonder either, that they would then turn around and say that since they're all doing it, there's no point in trying to do better. Narrow is our way, and few find it.