Reference Groups and Premarital Sexual Behavior

Reference group theory is used to explain variations in premarital sexual behavior and attitudes. It was predicted that as college students continue to break away from their parents and conform more to their peers, they will become more sexually permissive. The hypothesis is weakly supported. Further, it was predicted that the permissiveness of the peer reference group, in its norms and behavior, would be an even more important determinant of premarital sexuality. This variable is a very good predictor of premarital sexuality. Conformity to peer expectations appears to be crucial in explaining premarital sexual activity and attitudes. Moreover, college students conform not only to their friends but also to their age-mates in general.