Age differences in attitude change toward premarital coitus

Research on changes in attitudes toward premarital sexual behavior examine either (1) changes in attitudes of college students over a relatively short period of time or (2) changes in attitudes of adult nonstudent populations over long periods of time using noncomparable data sources. The present research examines changes in attitudes toward premarital coitus over a relatively short period of time utilizing national probability samples of the U.S. population. Rather than treating age as a dichotomous variable of the young and the old, age is considered in 10-year age groups, and changes by age group and sex are examined. The results indicate obvious dangers in employing gross breakdowns of the age variable in that considerable differences within young and old age groups are observed. Further, these difference interact with sex, producing sex- and age-specific change patterns. The exact nature of these patterns strongly suggests that the most rapid change is taking place among females in the 30--39 age group and that this change is such to produce intersex convergence in this age group. Rates of change by age and sex are discussed in terms of the possible differential influences of changes in women's roles.