Background The purpose of this study is to assess attitudes toward premarital
dating and sexual encounters in individuals aged 15–49 years in Tehran.
Methods Utilizing the attitudes section of an original cross-sectional study
(n = 755) aimed at assessing sexual health needs of adults, this paper
examined personal attitudes towards premarital dating, non-sexual
relationships and sexual encounters in both male and female adults aged
between 15–49 years. Multi-stage cluster random sampling and a
validated/reliable questionnaire were used. Descriptive, bivariate and
multivariate analyses were conducted using statistical software. Results The
results indicated that the majority of the participants were supportive of
dating. Almost three-fourths of the males were more positively inclined
towards non-sexual, yet tactile, affectionate interactions between unmarried
males and females as opposed to only half of the females (70 % vs. 50.5 %).
Also, males held significantly more liberal attitudes than females in their
acceptance of premarital sex. On preserving virginity prior to marriage, 43 %
of the males felt that it was important for a female to be a virgin, whereas
only 26 % felt it was important for males to remain a virgin. Interestingly,
more females (61 %) supported the importance of a female’s virginity compared
with the importance of males’ virginity (48 %). This study showed that, being
a male, of a younger age, single, and being less religious or being secular
were important determinants of a liberal sexual attitude. Conclusion These
results might reflect a socio-cultural transition in the sexual attitudes of
different age groups of participants - a phenomenon that will need empirical
studies to unpack in the Iranian socio-cultural context
