Age at first sexual intercourse and the timing of marriage and childbirth

Although many studies have examined determinants of age at first sexual intercourse, less attention has been given to its consequences. In this analysis, age at first intercourse is viewed as a life course transition that can influence marriage and childbearing. Analysis is based on the National Survey of Family Growth, Cycle III. Early initiation of sexual activity is associated with a relatively slow pace of family formation, but early initiators do catch up with late initiators. Teenagers who begin sexual activity early are more likely to form a family through giving birth than through marriage. These patterns are not greatly altered by the introduction of several control variables. Finally, blacks and non-hispanic whites have quite different trajectories of marriage and childbirth following first intercourse.