| Summary: | Young adult females are challenged, within the context of their own sexual needs, the media
and social pressure, to make choices regarding safe sexual behaviour to ensure compliance to
social and religious norms and to act preventively regarding their own emotional and physical
well–being. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore the self–regulation strategies of
young adult women, with regard to maintaining their virginity. More specifically, the aim
was to explore and understand the role motivation, self monitoring, self–control and
adjustment strategies play in the long term regulation of maintaining their virginity. An
exploratory, qualitative case study of five Afrikaans speaking young adult females with an
average age of 25.2 years was used. In–depth semi–structured interviews were conducted and
directed thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data.
Religion played the main role in regards to motivation and virginity was therefore not a
specific choice for the participants, but rather formed part of who they are as people of faith.
Religion also provides clear guidelines for their relationships. Virginity is considered a
special way of obtaining a reward and by some participants as a way to avoid negative
consequences. None of the participants had clear alternative plans, but they mostly rely on
strict rules and boundaries they set for themselves. The self–monitoring strategies that the
participants used are subjective feelings, conversations with friends and God and to reflect on
their actions. It appears that most participants have not yet been in situations in which selfcontrol
was critical, although they were able, in uncomfortable or difficult situations, to do
something else to focus their attention away and thus ensure more self–control. The
participants did not need to make any drastic adjustments to their behaviour, especially
because thus far they were able to and wanted to maintain their goals. It is clear that the
participants’ self–regulation strategies, in order to maintain their virginity, are strongly
influenced by religion. It was further concluded that they have been successful in maintaining
virginity because they have set themselves strict rules and boundaries, they are able to apply a
variety of self–monitoring and self–control strategies, and they show persistence in the assimilative adjustments they make. The results cannot be generalised and it is still uncertain
whether religion plays a central role in all cases where virginity is maintained. The findings
of the study, however, certainly contribute to new questions about the relationship between
the preservation of virginity and self–regulation strategies that can be more thoroughly
explored in future research. === Thesis (MA (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
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