The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between education and age at first intercourse, the first intermediate variable which contributes to fertility outcomes. Forward stepwise regression analysis was utilized to examine secondary data from the National Survey of Family Growth. Three separate regression analyses were performed for blacks, Hispanics, and whites to investigate race differences. However, the Hispanic analysis proved to be of little substantive interest since none

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... of the independent variables, other than age, was significant. Consequently, only the results for blacks and whites are discussed. Age at first intercourse was utilized as the dependent variable, while education was the independent variable of substantive interest. Income, age at menarche, age in years, mother's educational attainment, marital status of parents in teen years, and frequency of attendance at religious services were also put in the equations as controls. Results were discussed for these variables, as well as for the effect of education upon age at first intercourse. The data supported the opportunity structure hypothesis, in that, education tended to have a positive impact upon the decision to become sexually active for both blacks and whites. This fertility reducing decision is discussed as a response to mobility opportunities. The data failed to support the minority group status hypothesis because there was no race by education interaction. Thus, it appears that blacks and whites respond to mobility aspirations in much the same manner when it comes to initiating sexual intercourse. In an effort to further specify the nature of the positive relationship between age at first intercourse and educational attainment, the analyses for blacks and whites were run a second time with controls for early first birth introduced. In this case, education fell out of the equation, indicating that the relationship between education and fertility behaviors is very complex. Also of interest is the finding that blacks still have an earlier age at first intercourse than whites. It is suggested that the opportunity structure hypothesis, alone, does not account for this fact. Thus, the present study indicates that it may be helpful to revise research and policy concerning teenage pregnancy so that it takes account of the differential cultural factors of racial groups at each of the intermediate stages to fertility outcomes.