| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to add to adolescent sexuality theory by modifying and extending current theoretical models—especially those of Reiss (1967), Burr (1973), Reiss and Miller (1974), and Jessor and Jessor (1973). A total of 492 female and 308 male Canadian university and high school student respondents provided the data for this study. Reiss' Guttman scale of sexual permissiveness and a Guttman scale of intimacy of sexual behavior were used to operationalize the major dependent variables. Path analysis indicates substantial support for a normative-opportunity model based on Jessor and Jessor's (1973) “distal-proximal” model and question Reiss'(1967) assumption of “opposing institutions” and Reiss and Miller's (1974) emphasis on autonomy of individuals in explaining their sexual attitudes. The findings indicate the importance of the peer group in determining both sexual attitudes and behavior of individuals and the importance of frequency of dating in predicting individuals' sexual behavior. |
