Sexuality Standards and Number of Reported Sexual Partners in the Last Year

Over both the Oklahoma and Texas samples approximately 34% of participants were abstinent during the last year, 32% had one sexual partner, and 34% had more than one sexual partner. It seems that in terms of the number of sexual partners, the sample is fairly evenly divided between abstinence, monogamy and sex with multiple partners.

The Oklahoma sample reported from 0 to 7 different sexual partners in the last year (mean = 1.45, sd = 1.36). The majority of the Oklahoma sample reported having 0 (21.4%) or 1 (62.5%) sexual partners in the last year. Only a minority (16%) reported having more than one sexual partner in the last year.

The Texas sample reported having 0 to 20 different sexual partners in the last year (mean = 1.53, sd = 2.17). The majority of the Texas sample reported having 0 (36%) or 1 (31%) sexual partners in the last year. However 33% of the Texas sample reported having more than one sexual partner in the last year.

Number of Sexual Partners by Sexuality Standards Groupings

People who require more love and commitment prior to sex reported fewer sexual partners in the last year. This effect held in the Oklahoma sample (r =.47, p < .01) and in the Texas Sample (r =.60, p < .01).

Number of Sexual Partners in the Last Year by Sexuality Standard Grouping
Sample	< Love	Love	> Love	f	df	p
Oklahoma	2.0a	1.3ab	0.5b	7.6	(2, 74)	0.001
Texas	3.1a	1.3b	.3c	58.7	(2, 354)	< .0001

Note: Means with different subscripts are significantly different using Tukey HSD post hoc comparisons (p < .05).

People who require engagement or marriage prior to sex reported having fewer sexual partners in the last year than did those who require only love prior to the onset of sexual relations, who in turn reported having fewer sexual partners than those who require friendship or casual acquaintance prior to the onset of sexual intercourse.

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