PUB TYPE Reports- Research/Technical (143)

Many studies have been done pertaining to the effects of parental divorce on children. Recently, studies have shown that parental marital status has an effect on adolescents ' sexual activity. Specifically, children of divorced parents have been found to be younger at first coitus than children of married parents. This study attempted to replicate these findings, as well as investigate possible factors that mignt be associated with the earlier sexual activity of adolescents of divorced parents. Eighty- nine high school students from a small Eastern Pennsylvania school were administered a 38-question survey. The questions concerned each subject's parents' marital status and the t.,;bject's sexual activity. In addition, questions investigated the possibility that anger, lack of parental supervision, and parental endorsement of sexuality are associated with the earlier sexuality of children of divorced parents. It wa