The correlates and gender differences of sexual behavior of single young adults in Thailand

Abstract

Using a nationally-representative sample of single young adults from the National Sexual Behavior Study of Thailand (N=1,852), we explore individual-, family-, peer-, and community-level factors related to premarital sex. Over 50% of single young males and about 20% of single young females aged 18-24 in Thailand report having engaged in sexual activity the past 12 months. Better education andfrequent consumption of alcohol increases the likelihood of premarital sex. The incidence of sex is higheramong working men than women. Young adults perceive that parents are more tolerant withpromiscuity among their sons rather than daughters. The attitudes of fathers seem particularlyimportant. When parents are more aware of the activities of young adult children, the latter are lesslikely to be sexually promiscuous, which however also appear to be affected by urbanity. The sexualexperience of close friends is closely related to the sexual activity of the focal young adults.