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The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students

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The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students Tina Penhollow, Michael Young and George Denny ABSTRACT Sexuality is considered by most religious traditions to represent general temptation, procreation or a way to strengthen emotional bonds. The purpose of this study was to determine if frequency of religious attendance and perceived degree of religiosity could distinguish between those students who have and have not participated in selected sexual behaviors. Data were collected from a convenience sample of undergraduate students (n = 408) at a southeastern university. Students voluntarily completed a questionnaire in a regular classroom setting. The questionnaire elic- ited information regarding the frequency of attendance at religious services, perceived strength of religious feelings, perception of God’s view of sex, and participation in the following sexual behaviors: sexual intercourse (ever, last year and last month), giving oral sex (ever and last month), receiving oral sex (ever and last month), and anal sex (ever). Data were analyzed using both univariate analysis (chi-square and analysis of variance) and logistic regression. Results indicated that religiosity variables, especially frequency of religious attendance and religious feelings, were significant predictors of sexual behavior. Results should be considered by those working with college students in the area of human sexuality. INTRODUCTION more, the majority of religious teachings are individuals are more likely to be sexually Religion, by definition, is a conservative based upon the assumptions that the ma- active during emerging adulthood com- force based upon a set of beliefs concern- jor purpose of sex is procreation.1-3 In con- pared to when in high school, but they are ing the cause, nature and purpose of the trast to these generally prohibitive sexual also less likely to use condoms.5 A study by universe. These beliefs are mainly based on ideologies, popular culture and mass me- Reinisch, Hill, Sanders and Ziemba-Davis traditions involving scriptures, prophecy dia often promote sexual ideals that are and revelations that have been incorporated mainly characterized by sexual pleasure. Tina Penhollow is a senior graduate assistant into the theories behind a particular reli- A great deal of research effort has been and doctoral academy fellow, Program in gion. The difficulty with religion and tra- conducted on understanding variables that Health Science, University of Arkansas, ditional beliefs is that they are slow to influence premarital sexual activity among Fayetteville, AR 72701. Michael Young, PhD, change; however, the world is ever-chang- college students. It has been documented is university professor, Program in Health ing. Religion, along with peers, parents and that college students engage in a number Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the media, is a primary socialization agent of behaviors that place them at risk for AR 72701; E-mail: [email protected]. for youth. Most conventional religions Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and George Denny is associate professor, Educa- strongly discourage premarital sexual activ- unintended pregnancy.4 According to the tional Statistics, University of Arkansas, ity, permissiveness and adultery. Further- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fayetteville, AR 72701. American Journal of Health Education — March/April 2005, Volume 36, No. 2 75 Tina Penhollow, Michael Young and George Denny revealed that college students participate in and attitudes.13 increasingly stronger religiosity effects on comparatively higher levels of risky behav- Faulkner and DeJong14 indicated that attitudes toward premarital sex as denomi- iors, including unprotected sexual inter- religiosity encompasses five different di- national commitment increased.21 Similarly, course with casual partners.6 It has also been mensions: (1) ritualistic, which focuses on results of a another study found that fre- reported that college students are more ac- religious behavior as reading religious lit- quency of certain sexual behaviors and the cepting of casual sex and experience less erature, (2) experiential, which refers to extensiveness of those sexual experiences sex-related guilt than their younger coun- purpose in life and the importance of faith, decreased as religious intensity increased.22 terparts.7 Many college students report ad- (3) ideological, which refers to religious Empirical evidence demonstrates that equate knowledge about STIs; however, beliefs as the idea of deity, (4) intellectual, strength of religious conviction and partici- many do not feel they are at personal risk.8 which deals with religious knowledge, and pation in religious activities are more im- According to a study by DiClemente, Forrest (5) consequential, which deals with the im- portant than religious denomination or af- and Mickler, despite high levels of HIV/ pact of one’s beliefs on his or her secular filiation in predicting whether or not an AIDS knowledge, only 8% of college stu- activities. Fox and Young utilized a multi- individual has sex.16 Thus, for the present dents reported using condoms each time dimensional religiosity scale and found that study we decided to measure frequency of they had sexual intercourse.9 virgins indicated a greater degree of religi- attendance at worship services and self-re- Many college students report making an osity, when compared to non-virgins, in ported religiosity. effort to reduce risky behaviors; however, three of five different dimensions (ritualis- Most studies that have examined the re- DiClemente and his co-workers found that tic, experiential, and consequential).15 Re- lationship between sexual behaviors and most had multiple sex partners and had not sults suggest that virgins reported a greater religiosity have focused on sexual inter- used condoms in the previous year.9 Addi- degree of sexual guilt and religious commit- course and have not examined other behav- tionally, they found that 37% of students ment than their non-virgin counterparts. iors. In this study we addressed not only who had engaged in heterosexual inter- Research suggests that religious indi- participation in sexual intercourse but also course during the previous year had never viduals engage in first sexual intercourse at giving and receiving oral sex and participa- used a condom; and approximately two- a later age than their non-religious coun- tion in anal sex. Of known STI risk behav- thirds used condoms during fewer than terparts.16,17 Much of the literature on iors, anal intercourse among college women 50% of their sexual episodes. The majority predicting sexual behaviors has focused is reported to be the least studied. The avail- of research findings among college students upon coital debut, with results suggesting able data suggest a higher incidence of anal indicate risky behavior in the form of in- that age may be the most consistent predic- intercourse among college women com- consistent or no condom use, multiple life- tor of first sexual intercourse. However, pared with the general adult female popu- time sexual partners,8 and alcohol and other many other variables such as gender, race, lation.23 Flannery et al., found that almost drug use combined with sexual activity.10 social status and religious context have been one-third (32%) of sexually experienced The dimensions of religiosity and sexu- documented.11,18 In a review of over 250 college women (n = 761) reported that they ality have been shown to be closely associ- studies conducted between 1980 and 1999, had engaged in anal intercourse.23 ated. Religion plays a large role with regard Kirby found 13 different clusters of ante- Over the past several decades sexual to sexual decision making. Many studies cedents on the topic of sexual risk-taking and religious trends have generated a great have used reference group theory11,12 to behavior.19 One of these clusters was attach- deal of research interest and policy. Moral- explain associations between religiosity and ment to religious institutions. Religiosity istic and political arguments cite a degen- sexual behaviors and attitudes. The theory was defined as a protective factor, since it eration of values as the major source of the states that individuals’ sexual behaviors was associated with delaying the initiation trend toward earlier sexual activity. Further- and attitudes stem from their religious of sexual intercourse and with reporting more, many studies state that individuals teachings. Thus, according to reference fewer sex partners.2,19 are less likely to attend worship services group theory, identifying with religious A recent study found that across 52 cul- today than in past decades.16,17 Evidence teachings will lead an individual to avoid tures religiosity was positively correlated confirms that attitudes regarding premari- certain types of sexual behavior. Another with self-described sexual restraint among tal sex have become more permissive over important factor to consider is whether re- men (n = 6,982; r = 0.22) and women (n = time.17 Thus, the extent to which religiosity ligiosity is intrinsic (deeply held and a pri- 9.763; r = 0.25).3 Laumann, Gagnon, still influences sexual behavior provides a mary motivator for action) or extrinsic (a Michael & Michaels found that individuals backdrop for the study. superficial social motivator for action). The who reported their religious affiliation as The purpose of this study was to deter- stronger or more deeply held an
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