FSU Sociology Professors Karin Brewster, Ph.D., and Kathryn Karker Tillman, Ph.D., co-authored the article “Motivations for Maintaining Virginity Among US Adolescents” with Giuseppina Valle Holway, Ph.D. (M.S. Sociology ’10, Ph.D. Sociology ’13). Below is a summary of the article written by doctoral student Martin Gandur (Ph.D. Political Science ’25).
In “Motivations for Maintaining Virginity Among US Adolescents,” FSU Sociology Professors Karin Brewster, Ph.D., Kathryn Harker Tillman, Ph,D., and Giuseppina Valle Holway, Ph.D., Assistant Professor from the University of Tampa, study the changes in the motivations for maintaining virginity among U.S. adolescents between 15 and 19 years old from 2006 and 2019. This research contributes to the field by exploring an understudied area, despite the emphasis on abstinence in sexual education programs in the U.S.
To examine motivations for virginity, the authors use data from the National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative sample of females and males from 2006 to 2019. The authors focus on the respondents between 15 and 19 years old who reported no vaginal intercourse experience as well as those who expressed their primary motivation for abstinence (against religion or morals; do not want to get pregnant; do not want to get a sexually transmitted disease; has not found the right person yet; in a relationship but waiting for the right time; and other). The sample includes 4,662 respondents in 2006-2010, 4,134 respondents in 2011-2015, and 3,812 respondents in 2015-2019.
The authors find that the proportion of females with no vaginal intercourse slightly increased from 57% (2006-2010) to 59% (2015-2019), although these proportions are not statistically different. In contrast, within males, the proportion of virgins increased substantially, especially among those between 15 and 17 years old (from 69% in 2011-2015 to 77% in 2015-2019).
The authors also find significant changes in the motivations for abstinence reported by adolescents, but only for those between 15 and 17 years old. Specifically, among females, the most frequently selected reason was religious or moral in all periods, but the proportion reporting this reason decreased substantially from 39% in 2006-2010 to 27% in 2015-2019. Conversely, the proportion of females reporting they had not found the right person increased from 16% (2006-2010) to 25% (2015-2019). Moreover, the share of females reporting pregnancy fear (21% to 23%), STD fear (8% to 6%), and waiting for the right time in a current relationship (5% to 7%) remained stable.
Among males, the proportion reporting religion and moral reasons also declined, but in a smaller magnitude than females (from 30% in 2006-2010 to 24% in 2015-2019). In contrast, the percentage of males saying they were waiting for the right person increased considerably (from 27% in 2006-2010 to 35% in 2015-2019). The share of males reporting being in a relationship but waiting for the right time declined (from 11% in 2006-2010 to 7% in 2015-2019), while the proportion reporting fear of pregnancy fluctuated (reaching a high of 24% in 2011-2015). Finally, similar to females, the share of males reporting fear of STDs remained stable (from 7% to 5%).
This research makes a significant contribution to the field of adolescent decision-making by documenting overall increases in virginity among adolescents between 2006 and 2019, especially among males and at younger ages. Concerning the motivations underlying these changes, the authors identify a decline in religious orientation among adolescents. Moreover, the fact that more adolescents report not having met an appropriate partner may suggest a shift in how young people view sexual engagement or a decrease in opportunities for sexual exploration.