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“Like A Virgin”. Correlates Of Virginity Among Italian University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Manuela Stranges

    (Department of Economics, Statistics and Finance “Giovanni Anania”, University of Calabria)

  • Daniele Vignoli

    (Department of Statistics, Informatics, Applications “G. Parenti”, University of Florence)

Abstract

In this paper we describe the correlates of virginity in Italy. We use a dataset of students enrolled in bachelor programs of Economics and Statistics stemming from the SELFY survey, conducted in Italy in 2001 and 2017. Descriptive results show a reduction of students, both males and females, which are virgin at the time of the interview between 2001 and 2017. Regression analyses suggest that self-esteem and own body image, the relationship with parents (in particular the mother), and religion exert the strongest correlation with virginity. Models augmented with interaction terms between time and religion variables show that the relationship between religion and virginity has weakened over time. Our results also show that the participation in religious groups is more important than the importance attributed to religion in favouring being virgin. In all, our findings extend research on sexuality among Italian young adults and underscore the important variability that exist in the sexual experiences of students as highlighted by the salience of a multitude of individual, familial, interpersonal, and community-level factors associated with their virginity.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuela Stranges & Daniele Vignoli, 2019. "“Like A Virgin”. Correlates Of Virginity Among Italian University Students," Working Papers 201908, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    • Handle: RePEc:clb:wpaper:201908
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    File URL: http://www.ecostat.unical.it/RePEc/WorkingPapers/WP08_2019.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alan Collins, 2000. "Surrender Value of Capital Assets: The Economics of Strategic Virginity Loss," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 193-201, October.
    2. Francesco C. Billari & Riccardo Borgoni, 2001. "Spatial profiles in the analysis of event histories: an application to first sexual intercourse in Italy," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2001-025, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    3. Daniele Vignoli & Silvana Salvini, 2014. "Religion and union formation in Italy: Catholic precepts, social pressure, and tradition," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 31(35), pages 1079-1106.
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    5. Marcantonio Caltabiano & Gianpiero Dalla Zuanna & Alessandro Rosina, 2006. "Interdependence between sexual debut and church attendance in Italy," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 14(19), pages 453-484.
    6. Paul, Charlotte & Fitzjohn, Julie & Eberhart-Phillips, Jason & Herbison, Peter & Dickson, Nigel, 2000. "Sexual abstinence at age 21 in New Zealand: the importance of religion," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 1-10, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    virginity status; correlates; Italy; religion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J19 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Other

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