Students’ Perspective on Factors Influencing Premarital Sexual Intercourse

Introduction: Early initiation of sex increases the risks of unprotected sex, multiple partners, and sexually transmitted infections. The effective factors of premarital sexual intercourse have not been widely studied. Objective: This study aimed at identifying environmental factors influencing premarital sexual intercourse from the Iranian youths’ perspective. Materials and Methods: Using a qualitative content analysis method, we carried out on students of the Payame Noor University of Shiraz, Iran. A total of 30 single male and female students were selected using a purposive sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The obtained data were analyzed via thematic analysis. Participation in the study was voluntary with informed consent. Results: Seven teen subjects were male, and 13 were female. Analysis of the transcripts yielded 5 main categories: Culture, Cocio-economic status, Family, Media, and Friends, and Peers. The sub-categories were acculturation, cultural norms, economic problems, heavy dowry, availability of unhealthy options, family support, family values and norms, control and supervision, parent-child relationship, satellite, Internet, friends,and peer pressure, and lack of resistance to peer and friends’ influence. Conclusion: The educational programs and interventions should emphasize the role of cultural factors and family support and monitoring by families to help correct sexual orientation and healthy behaviors among adolescents. Furthermore, training programs should consider the negative impacts of western media and the effects of peer pressure on the formation and correction of premarital sexual behavior.