Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2007

Thesis Director

Unknown

Thesis Committee Member

Unknown

Thesis Committee Member

Unknown

Abstract

Research on adolescent dating behaviors, particularly adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive use, is very important due to the health and social costs of teenage pregnancy, childbearing, and sexually transmitted diseases among the adolescent population. The primary purpose of this paper was to address the relation between type of relationship initiation (traditional versus nontraditional) and sexual behavior. Traditional relationships were defined as those initiated by males whereas nontraditional relationships were defined as those initiated by females. Study participants were 104 (62 female, 42 male) undergraduate students attending Eastern Illinois University psychology and sociology classes. The results indicated that significantly more relationships were found to be traditionally initiated than non-traditionally initiated. There were significant correlations between first and current relationships in terms of delay of sexual onset and percentage of birth control usage. Depression was negatively correlated with both selfesteem and relationship satisfaction. Type of relationship initiation was not related to delay of sexual involvement in either first or current relationships. Type of relationship initiation was also not related to birth control usage or religious behavior, depression, self-esteem, or relationship satisfaction. In addition, none of the study factors (type of relationship initiation, religion, depression, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction) were significantly related to safe-sex behavior.

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