Size Matters

John Cawley, Kara Joyner and Jeffery Sobal
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Kara Joyner: Cornell University, USA, kj34@cornell.edu
Jeffery Sobal: Cornell University, USA, js57@cornell.edu

Rationality and Society, 2006, vol. 18, issue 1, 67-94

Abstract: We examine the relationship between body size (specifically, weight and height) and dating and sexual activity using two large, nationally representative, longitudinal data sets. Our conceptual framework assumes that the utility an adolescent derives from dating and sexual activity is a function of the weight and height of his or her partner, and it predicts that heavier and shorter adolescents will be less likely to date and have sex. Empirical tests confirm that dating is less likely among heavier girls and boys and among shorter girls and boys. In adolescent dating, size clearly matters. For sexual activity, the results are less consistent.

Keywords: adolescence; dating; height; intercourse; obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:18:y:2006:i:1:p:67-94

DOI: 10.1177/1043463106060153

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