Pleasure, empowerment, and love: Factors associated with a positive first coitus

• DOI: 10.1525/srsp.2005.2.3.41
• Publication Date: 2005-10-26T16:41:16Z
• Authors: Andrew P. Smiler; L. Monique Ward; Allison Caruthers; Ann Merriwether
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 5. Gender equality; 4. Education; 0305 other medical science

Descriptions of adolescents’ first coital experiences have typically focused on the negative affect reported by women or on sex differences in levels of positive affect. Analyses of factors associated with a positive first coitus are rare. Accordingly, we examined correlates of a pleasurable first coital experience among 335 undergraduates. Analyses focused on three elements of a positive sexual experience—positive emotionality (e.g., happy), empowerment, and feelings of love—and on four groups of potential correlates: context of the first experience, parental socialization messages, gender attributes and beliefs, and body satisfaction. Each of these four domains emerged as significant correlates. Results suggested that a more intentional (vs. spontaneous) first experience, exposure to parental messages about sexual freedom, less adherence to “traditional” gender roles, and greater body satisfaction were related to a more positive first coital experience. These findings suggest that comprehensive sexual education programs would likely facilitate positive sexual development.