Factors related to sexual abstinence among Thai female middle adolescents

Abstract

To identify the predicting factors of sexual abstinence among Thai female middle adolescents. Pender’s Health Promotion Model guided to select the factors in the study. The participants in this study were 1,360 female students from high schools in Thailand. The participants completed 8 self–administered questionnaires. Independent variables were perceived benefits of sexual abstinence, perceived barriers to sexual abstinence, perceived sexual abstinence self–efficacy, parental influence, peer influence, and commitment to a plan of sexual abstinence. The dependent variable was sexual abstinence. Chi–square and multiple forward stepwise logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyze the data. The results showed that all independent variables had relation with sexual abstinence. Perceived sexual abstinence self–efficacy and peer influence were significantly positive predictors of sexual abstinence, at the .05 level (B = .149 and .048). Whereas, parental influence was significantly negative predictor of sexual abstinence, at the .05 level (B = -.064). The predictors could explain 29.3% of the variance and could correctly classify for 88.9%. The equation of logistic regression for explaining the variables of sexual abstinence was as follow: Sexual abstinence = -3.25 + .149 (Perceived sexual abstinence self-efficacy) + .048(Peer influence) - .064 (Parental influence).