Original paper

Trends over time in age at sexual debut among Polish women and underlying socio-economic determinants

Durda-Masny, Magdalena; Jarząbek-Bielecka, Grażyna; Szwed, Anita; Hanć, Tomasz; Czapla, Zbigniew; Kaczmarek, Maria

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Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 75 No. 3 (2018), p. 185 - 191

published: Aug 27, 2018
published online: Jun 11, 2018
manuscript accepted: Apr 20, 2018
final revised version received: Apr 20, 2018
manuscript revision requested: Mar 22, 2018
manuscript received: Jan 30, 2018

DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2018/0853

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ArtNo. ESP140007503001, Price: 29.00 €

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate (1) changes over time in age at sexual initiation among Polish women and (2) underlying socio-economic determinants. 273 women born between 1970 and 1995 in Wielkopolska region (Poland) filled in a questionnaire of sexual behavior. The questionnaire included questions about the age of sexual initiation and women’s socio-economic status such as place of residence, level of education, type of school, marital status. Database and statistical analyzes were performed using Statistica 10.0. Age of sexual initiation differed significantly among the cohorts of women stratified by birth cohort (H = 61.4, p < 0.001). In cohort I (born between 1970–1975), mean age of initiation was 18.97 years, in cohort II (1976–1980) 18.67 years, in cohort III (1981–1985) 18.53 years; cohort IV (1986–1990) 18.27 years, and cohort V (1991–1995) 16.41 years. Two socio-economic variables significantly affected the age of the sexual activity onset: the type of school and level of education. The mean age of sexual debut among Polish women has significantly decreased over the last 40 years, with the largest, statistically significant difference observed between the most recent cohort of women (born between 1991–1995) and the other cohorts (born between 1970–1990). The most significant socio-economic determinants of age at first sex were the type of school and level of education.

Keywords

women • sexual debut • changes in time • socio-economic factors