Attitudes toward premarital sex among unmarried undergratuates: investigating gender, level of study and the role of sexual orientation

Abstract

The extent at which unmarried undergraduates practise premarital sex continues to attract incessant research for effective risk reduction and possible behaviour change. We examinedextent to which attitudes toward premarital sex are predicted bysexual orientation, peer connectedness and alcohol use among undergraduates ina Nigerian university. In a survey approach, 208 unmarried undergraduates were sampled using accidental method of sampling. A structured questionnaire that consisted of demographic information and scales of variables with robust psychometric properties was used for data collection. Hypotheses were tested with the use of multiple regression, independent group’s t-test and one-way ANOVA statistics. Results showed that all predictor variables jointly predicted attitudes toward premarital sex. However, only alcohol use has significant independent relationship with the criterion variable. Male unmarried undergraduates reported positive attitudes toward premarital sex than their female counterparts. Level of study influenced attitudes toward premarital sex. We conclude that of all the established associated risk factors to premarital sex, alcohol abuse should take a prominent place in risk behaviour reduction program for young population.

Keywords: Premarital sex, alcohol use, sexual orientation, peer connectedness, unmarried undergraduate, Oye-Ekiti.