The influence of puberty, family processes, and leisure activities on the timing of first sexual experience

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of pubertal timing, demographics, family processes, and leisure activities on the timing of first sexual experience. The sample included 15-18-year-old adolescents from the former East and West Germanys. Hierarchical model using Cox regression examined the differences in the patterns of predictors by nation and sex. Higher levels of parental monitoring predicted later initiation of sexual experience for West males and females and East males. In the final model pubertal timing was significant only for East males. Higher levels of risky leisure predicted earlier first sexual experience for East males and females and West females. Social-romantic leisure was a significant predictor of earlier timing for both West males and females.