Sexual Milestones and Factors Associated with Coitus Initiation Among Israeli High School Students

Abstract

In view of the developmental approach to sexual behavior, this article presents the stages of sexual behavior leading to coitus in four grades of high school students in Israel and the sociodemographic factors associated with initiating coitus. Analyses were based on data from the first national study dealing comprehensively with sexuality in 30 years. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by a random sample of 4,609 students of the General Educational (secular) system that included 68% of the Hebrew-speaking sector or 55% of all students in Israel. Our findings indicated a progressive set of stages of sexual behavior forming a Guttman scale, from kissing and petting over the clothes though petting under the clothes and genital touching to coitus. In comparison to results of a 1970 Israeli survey, we found an increase in practice in all Guttman scale stages of sexual behavior, as well as a diminished gap between genders. The gap fully disappeared in the three lower stages. Predictive variables of coitus initiation included gender, religiosity, immigration status, family structure, perceptions of academic achievements, and the proportion of peers practicing coitus. In addition to gender, perception of the proportion of peers that already practiced intercourse was the best predictor followed by grade, perception of academic achievement, and family structure. Marked differences were noticed between genders regarding associations with religiosity and immigration status. The discussion focused on comparisons to findings in other countries, the contribution of the findings to the understanding of Israeli adolescents' sexual behavior, and practical educational implications.

Adolescent Daughters’ Romantic Competence: The Role of Divorce, Quality of Parenting, and Maternal Romantic History

“…Earlier studies have shown that romantic timetables of Israeli adolescents resemble those of American adolescents (Carver et al 2003;Shulman and Scharf 2000). Despite these similarities, there are also findings that suggest different sexual behavior trajectories may exist among males and females from different cultures (Shtarkshall et al 2009). This study, however, also has many strengths.…”

Romantic Contexts, Sexual Behavior, and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescent Males and Females

“…Men tend to initiate sex earlier while women tend to initiate sex later (Teitler 2002). Similarly, in their discussion of their findings, Shtarkshall et al (2009) suggest that girls perceived themselves as different from the boys, possibly lending legitimacy to them to postpone coitus.…”

“…Former findings suggest that females are at increased risk for depression when sexual behavior takes place within a non stable relationship (Grello et al 2003). Considering the different sexual trajectories in sexual behavior for Israeli adolescent males and females with females reporting lower sexual involvement (Shtarkshall et al 2009),we also hypothesized that the association between sexual behavior and depressive affect in short-term relationships would be more pronounced among adolescent females than adolescent males.…”

“…There have been few comprehensive studies of sexual behavior in Israel (Shtarkshall et al 2009). The first comprehensive study of sexual knowledge, attitudes and behavior among a representative sample of Israeli adolescents was conducted in the early 70's (Antonovsky et al 1978(Antonovsky et al , 1980.…”

“…Israeli students in grades 9-12 in the national general (secular) educational system (Shtarkshall et al 2009). …”