Premarital Contraceptive Usage: A Study and Some Theoretical Explorations

A sample of 482 females from a large Midwestern university attending a contraceptive clinic was observed in terms of comparing those attending and not attending the clinic and those who had sought contraceptive advice from a private physician. 5 hypotheses were observed asserting that the following factors positively influence the seeking of contraceptive assistance: 1) endorsement of sexual choice; 2) self-assurance 3) early sex education in the family 4) congruence of sexual standards and behavior and 5) degree of dyadic commitment. Factor analysis small space analysis and a new contingency table analysis were employed to analyze data. Data from these analyses indicate general support for Hypotheses 1 2 and 5. Hypotheses 3 and 4 were unsupported. The 3 variables are part of a general acceptance of ones own sexuality the key to contraceptive usage. The importance of virginal status suggests that it may be necessary to develop 2 interrelated theories of premarital contraceptive usage one for virgins and one for nonvirgins.