The research study examined how traditional attitudes toward premarital cohabitation affect sexual initiation and marital happiness among young adults from different countries. The study was conducted in six Eastern European nations, including Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Serbia. All these nations have high rates of adherence to conservative religious principles. They also have distinct cultural norms regarding love, courtship, marriage, and family life. Most people in these nations believe that married couples should refrain from extramarital sexual relations until they are married, while unmarried individuals must abstain from all forms of sexual activity. The study involved surveying participants aged between 18 and 25 years old about their experiences with dating, sexual initiation, and marital satisfaction. It focused on three main aspects: early sexual initiation, erotic anticipation, and marital satisfaction.
Early Sexual Initiation
The study found that most participants reported having sex for the first time after marriage or during engagement. Only a few had lost their virginity prior to getting engaged. This finding supports previous studies that found that delayed sexual initiation is more common in societies where religiosity is strong (Mullings et al., 2021). According to the data analysis, those who waited till marriage were less likely to feel anxious or embarrassed when it came to expressing sexual desires before marriage.
There was no significant correlation between early sexual initiation and sexual satisfaction within marriage. This may indicate that early sexual experience does not necessarily lead to better sexual compatibility later in life.
Erotic Anticipation
Respondents who had experienced premarital cohabitation reported higher levels of erotic anticipation than those who did not. Interestingly, this pattern held true across all six countries despite differences in cultural attitudes toward premarital sex. Participants from Poland and Romania reported significantly higher levels of excitement, passion, and desire than those from Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Serbia. This could be due to differences in the religious teachings they received growing up.
Polish Catholics are taught that premarital sex is sinful but forgivable if one seeks repentance through confession. On the other hand, Romanian Orthodox believers view premarital sex as a natural stage of courtship that leads to marriage.
Marital Satisfaction
Married respondents reported higher levels of marital satisfaction than unmarried individuals regardless of whether they had premarital cohabitation experiences.
Those who had cohabitated prior to marriage reported slightly lower levels of marital bliss compared to those who did not. It is possible that these couples felt less excited about their relationship after tying the knot since they already knew what to expect from each other physically. In contrast, those who waited till marriage may have found more joy in exploring new aspects of their spouse's personality and body during the honeymoon phase. These findings confirm previous research suggesting that delayed sexual initiation leads to greater marital happiness (Mullings et al., 2021).
Eastern European religions appear to influence sexual initiation, erotic anticipation, and marital satisfaction among young adults. Those with conservative views on premarital sex tend to wait until marriage before engaging in intercourse while those with liberal beliefs may start earlier. Early sexual experience does not necessarily lead to better marital compatibility or sexual satisfaction.
It could contribute to reduced excitement once married. The study highlights the importance of understanding cultural norms when studying sexuality across different regions and nations. Further research should explore how religious teachings impact relationships and sexual behavior within specific social contexts.
How do Eastern European religious norms regarding cohabitation influence sexual initiation, erotic anticipation, and marital satisfaction?
Eastern Europeans have traditionally viewed cohabitation as a prelude to marriage and it is still common for couples to live together before getting married. This may influence their sexual initiation because they are often less likely to engage in casual sex. Additionally, many Eastern Europeans believe that intimacy should be reserved for committed relationships, so there may be more erotic anticipation and excitement in their sexual encounters.