Premarital Sexual Sehavior and its Association with Time Spent Studying among College Students in Kathmandu

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive study examined the association between premarital sexual behavior and study time among 239 college students in Kathmandu, selected through systematic random sampling. On average, students devoted 2.97 hours per day to study at home. Approximately two-thirds reported studying less than four hours daily, while one-third studied four hours or more. Findings revealed that students with shorter study durations (<4 hours) were more likely to report having a romantic partner, engaging in dating and kissing, experiencing intimate touching, not using condoms at first sex, reporting a higher number of sexual partners (2.6), engaging in paid sex, and experiencing non-consensual intercourse. Conversely, students studying four or more hours daily also reported early initiating sex and risky behaviors including multiple sexual partners. These results highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to promote safer sexual practices among college students, particularly those who devote less time to academic study.