Article
Religiosity and Sexual Activity Among Older Adolescents
Journal of Religion and Health
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2009
Disciplines
Abstract
This study investigates religiosity, sexual activity, and sexual permissiveness among older adolescents. Eighty-two college students completed a survey that measured religiosity, sexual permissiveness, self-esteem, frequency of recent sexual encounters, and motivators for sexual activity or abstinence. Guilt, prayer, organized religious activity, and religious well-being predicted fewer sexual encounters. Orthodox beliefs, participation in organized religious activities, and highly-rated importance of faith predicted less permissive sexual attitudes. We conclude that guilt and religious activity can be good motivators for decreasing sexual encounters. We recommend that health practitioners encourage participation in religious activity among adolescents.
Citation Information
Richard Fehring, Kerry H. Cheever, Karyn German and Connie Philpot. "Religiosity and Sexual Activity Among Older Adolescents" Journal of Religion and Health (2009) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard_fehring/85/
Originally published in Journal of Religion and Health, Volume 37, No. 3 (Fall, December 1998), DOI: 10.1023/A:1022985922445.