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PEDIATRICS Vol. 109 No. 4 April 2002, pp. 581-584

Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Initiation of Coitus in Early Adolescents

Jennifer M. Spencer, PhD*, Gregory D. Zimet, PhD{ddagger}, Matthew C. Aalsma, PhD{ddagger} and Donald P. Orr, MD{ddagger}

* Hamilton Center Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
{ddagger} Indiana University School of Medicine, Section of Adolescent Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

--> Objective. To examine the role of self-esteem in predicting coitus initiation in a population of early adolescents.

Methods. Questionnaires assessing coital status, self-esteem, and pubertal maturation were collected from 188 participants who had not engaged in coitus by enrollment. Data were collected longitudinally while the participants were in the seventh and ninth grade. Ages ranged from 12 to 14 (mean: 12.50; standard deviation: 0.57) at Time 1 and from 14 to 16 (mean: 14.30; standard deviation: 0.49) at Time 2.

Results. Boys with higher self-esteem ratings at Time 1 were more likely to initiate intercourse by Time 2. Girls with higher self-esteem at Time 1 were more likely to remain virgins than girls with lower self-esteem. Pubertal status was unrelated to initiation of coitus in this sample.

Conclusions. Self-esteem, regardless of pubertal status, predicted coitus transition differentially in boys and girls. Results from this longitudinal study seem to fit within traditional problem behavior theory.

Key Words: coitus initiation • adolescents • self-esteem • longitudinal

Abbreviations: RSES, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale • SD, standard deviation

Received for publication Mar 26, 2001; Accepted Oct 29, 2001.


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