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Article
Relations Among Religiousness, Spirituality, and Sexual Practices
The Journal of Sex Research (2009)
  • Jessica L. Burris, University of Kentucky
  • Gregory T. Smith, University of Kentucky
  • Charles R. Carlson, University of Kentucky
Abstract

Although religiousness is commonly associated with limited sexual activity, little is known about spirituality's unique effect. Study aims involved measuring spirituality's unique affect on young adults' sexual practices (frequency of sex, number of sexual partners, and condom use) and determining whether spirituality adds significant increment over well-established predictors. Three hundred fifty-three (61% female) heterosexual young adults aged 17 to 29 completed this cross-sectional, self-report questionnaire study. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated spirituality is positively associated with participants' number of sexual partners and frequency of sex without a condom. Spirituality contributed to the prediction of participants' number of partners and condom use above and beyond the variance accounted for by religiousness, alcohol use, and impulsivity. A moderating effect for gender was found. Spirituality appears to have a unique and strong association with the sexual practices of young adults, particularly women, and should be assessed in future studies of young adults' sexual practices.

Keywords
  • young adults,
  • sexual practices,
  • religion,
  • spirituality
Publication Date
2009
Citation Information
Jessica L. Burris, Gregory T. Smith and Charles R. Carlson. "Relations Among Religiousness, Spirituality, and Sexual Practices" The Journal of Sex Research Vol. 46 Iss. 4 (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/charlescarlson/53/