62. SEXUAL COMPETENCE AT FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL COMPETENCE IN A SAMPLE OF NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY STUDENTS

Abstract

It has been proposed that the manner in which people experience their first sexual intercourse has implications for the development of subsequent sexual health. Sexual competence, as utilized by the UK NATSAL 2000 Study, was defined as being willing and autonomous, lacking regret, not being intoxicated, and using a reliable method of contraception

This study explored the construct in an opportunistic sample of 247 students at Otago University and Otago Polytechnic in 2006. Participants were aged between 17 and 21, and completed a self-report questionnaire. Data suggested that, of the 85% who reported having had sexual intercourse, the mean age of first sex was 16 years old. Seventy percent had not decided to have sex or discussed its occurrence with their partners prior to the event. Sexually competent first sexual intercourse was more likely with females than males, was more likely to occur the older they were at the time, was associated with more positive affective responses, and was associated with higher levels of sexual and emotional satisfaction.

The manner in which sexual competence at first sexual intercourse was associated with subsequent sexual satisfaction and sexual health will be explored.

The implications of these findings will also be discussed in terms of how sexual health promotion interventions should be developed, with particular focus on the age and circumstances under which young adults first experience sexual relationships.