S A Sanders1, J M Reinisch. 1. The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: The current public debate regarding whether oral sex constitutes having "had sex" or sexual relations has reflected a lack of empirical data on how Americans as a population define these terms. OBJECTIVE: To determine which interactions individuals would consider as having "had sex." METHODS: A question was included in a survey conducted in 1991 that explored sexual behaviors and attitudes among a random stratified sample of 599 students representative of the undergraduate population of a state university in the Midwest. PARTICIPANTS: The participants originated from 29 states, including all 4 US Census Bureau geographic regions. Approximately 79% classified themselves as politically moderate to conservative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage of respondents who believed the interaction described constituted having "had sex." RESULTS: Individual attitudes varied regarding behaviors defined as having "had sex": 59% (95% confidence interval, 54%-63%) of respondents indicated that oral-genital contact did not constitute having "had sex" with a partner. Nineteen percent responded similarly regarding penile-anal intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the view that Americans hold widely divergent opinions about what behaviors do and do not constitute having "had sex."
CONTEXT: The current public debate regarding whether oral sex constitutes having "had sex" or sexual relations has reflected a lack of empirical data on how Americans as a population define these terms. OBJECTIVE: To determine which interactions individuals would consider as having "had sex." METHODS: A question was included in a survey conducted in 1991 that explored sexual behaviors and attitudes among a random stratified sample of 599 students representative of the undergraduate population of a state university in the Midwest. PARTICIPANTS: The participants originated from 29 states, including all 4 US Census Bureau geographic regions. Approximately 79% classified themselves as politically moderate to conservative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage of respondents who believed the interaction described constituted having "had sex." RESULTS: Individual attitudes varied regarding behaviors defined as having "had sex": 59% (95% confidence interval, 54%-63%) of respondents indicated that oral-genital contact did not constitute having "had sex" with a partner. Nineteen percent responded similarly regarding penile-anal intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the view that Americans hold widely divergent opinions about what behaviors do and do not constitute having "had sex."
Authors: Giuseppina Maria Patavino; Cesar de Almeida-Neto; Jing Liu; David J Wright; Alfredo Mendrone-Junior; Maria Inês Lopes Ferreira; Anna Bárbara de Freitas Carneiro; Brian Custer; João Eduardo Ferreira; Michael P Busch; Ester Cerdeira Sabino Journal: Transfusion Date: 2011-07-14 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Peter A Vanable; Michael P Carey; Jennifer L Brown; Ralph J DiClemente; Laura F Salazar; Larry K Brown; Daniel Romer; Robert F Valois; Michael Hennessy; Bonita F Stanton Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2008-11-20 Impact factor: 5.012