The purpose of this study is to examine the process of sexual decision-making among undergraduate women. Two specific decisions are scrutinized: (a) whether the woman chooses to engage in premarital intercourse, and (b) if coitally active, whether to use contraceptives and how effectively Three major variables are examined as to their relative impact on the decision-making process: sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and affective orientation to sexual stimuli A survey was conducted among 344 undergraduate women utilizing a questionnaire and supplemented by eighteen follow-up interviews. It was hypothesized that coitally active women would be more sexually knowledgeable, have more permissive attitudes, and more positive affective orientations to sexuality. It was also proposed that women who are effective contraceptors would be more knowledgeable, more permissive in their attitudes, and have a more positive orientation to sexuality Multiple regression analysis reveals that all hypotheses with respect to coitally active vs. nonactive respondents are supported, but only a more positive affective orientation distinguishes effective from ineffective contraceptors
