Sexual Behavior in and out of Marriage: An Assessment of Correlates

An assessment of the demography of two forms of sexual behavior is presented. The effects of 18 variables, pertaining to social background and the marital relationship, on the frequency of marital intercourse and extramarital involvement are evaluated. While the marital variables in general best account for variations in sexual patterns, the most efficacious predictors tend to differ with the type of behavior considered and whether it is the behavior of husbands or wives that is of concern. Complex as the findings are, they suggest that the sexual behavior of both males and females is largely contextual, determined to a greater extent by present circumstances than past background. Specifically, it appears that the more severe the marital strain-a salient aspect of the context considered-the lower the frequency of marital coitus; and as the latter becomes more infrequent, the more likely is extramarital involvement to occur.