An explanatory model of contraceptive use among young single women

Abstract

In this investigation path analysis was used to develop an explanatory model of contraceptive use among young single women. Comparisons are made with the initial path model developed by Thompson and Spanier (1978). Self‐administered questionnaires were completed by a nonprobability sample of 33 high school and 211 college never‐married women who had experienced sexual intercourse and were currently dating. Path analysis revealed that the following variables had direct or indirect effects on contraceptive use: peer acceptance of premarital intercourse, parental acceptance of premarital intercourse, involvement with partner, partner influence to use contraception, frequency of intercourse, number of sexual partners, guilt about sexual intercourse and attitude toward contraceptive use. Overall the model accounted for 37% of the variance in contraceptive use compared with 31% in the Thompson and Spanier model.