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Article
Sexual Goals, Plans, and Actions: Toward a Sexual Script Emerging Adults Use to Delay or Abstain from Sexual Intercourse
Western Journal of Communication
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
11-16-2017
DOI
10.1080/10570314.2017.1400095
Abstract
This mixed-methods study of emerging adults investigates the messages asserted to delay or abstain from sexual intercourse. Goals-plans-action theory and sexual script theory inform the investigation of 192 survey participants and 27 interview participants. Results confirm that when emerging adults aspire to abstain or delay from intercourse, they enact a sexual script that includes communicative actions taken to reach their goal during conversations. This study identifies phrases used to initiate a conversation, recommends the inclusion of a rationale, provides the primary and secondary goals that inform message construction, and shows three primary ways conversations unfold.
Copyright Owner
Western States Communication Association
Copyright Date
2018
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Tina A. Coffelt. "Sexual Goals, Plans, and Actions: Toward a Sexual Script Emerging Adults Use to Delay or Abstain from Sexual Intercourse" Western Journal of Communication Vol. 82 Iss. 4 (2017) p. 416 - 438 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tina-coffelt/13/
This accepted article is published as • Coffelt, T. A. (2018). Sexual goals, plans, and actions: Toward a sexual script emerging adults use to delay or abstain from sexual intercourse. Western Journal of Communication, 84, 416-438. doi:10.1080/10570314.2017.1400095. Posted with permission.