title: Childhood precursors of age at first intercourse for females.
abstract: Age at first intercourse for a sample of adult white women using variables measured during childhood is predicted. Childhood predictors were measured at birth, and ages 5 and 9-11, using existing public-use data on the women. Median age at first intercourse for the sample was 17.5 years. Early family predictors, early developmental characteristics, and temperamental characteristics during childhood together could predict about a fourth of the variance in age at first intercourse. The strongest predictors were motor skills and nightmares at age 5, church attendance with family at age 9, and domineering and mature personality at age 9.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27516-3997, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Udry
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovenock
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D002666:Psychology, Child