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Re-Examining the Link Between Premarital Sex and Divorce
Jesse Smith1, Nicholas H Wolfinger2
1Department of Sociology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Journal of Family Issues
|April 4, 2024
Summary
Premarital sex is linked to a higher risk of divorce, even after accounting for early life factors. The risk increases with the number of premarital sexual partners, with no gender differences observed.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Family Studies
Background:
- Premarital sex is a known predictor of divorce, but the underlying reasons remain unclear.
- Existing theories linking premarital sex to divorce, such as differing beliefs and values, lack empirical testing.
- The influence of the number of sexual partners and gender on this relationship is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between premarital sex and divorce.
- To test potential explanations for this link, including early-life factors.
- To examine how the number of premarital sexual partners and gender modify this association.
Main Methods:
- Utilized event history models with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health.
- Included variables such as adolescent beliefs and values, religious background, personal characteristics, and number of premarital sexual partners.
- Analyzed the predictive relationship between premarital sex and subsequent divorce.
Main Results:
- The association between premarital sex and divorce was found to be statistically significant and robust, persisting after controlling for early-life factors.
- Individuals with nine or more premarital sexual partners faced the highest risk of divorce.
- Those with one to eight premarital partners also showed an increased divorce risk compared to those with no partners other than their spouse; no gender differences were detected.
Conclusions:
- Premarital sexual behavior remains a significant predictor of divorce, independent of early-life characteristics.
- A dose-response relationship exists between the number of premarital sexual partners and divorce risk.
- The findings suggest that interventions or counseling focusing on premarital sexual history might be relevant for marital stability.
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