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Article
The Influence of Religiosity, Gender, and Language Preference Acculturation on Sexual Activity Among Latino/a Adolescents
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
  • Lisa Edwards, Marquette University
  • Richard Fehring, Marquette University
  • Keyona M Jarrett, Marquette University
  • Kristin Haglund, Marquette University
Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
16 p.
Publication Date
11-1-2008
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Original Item ID
doi: 10.1177/0739986308322912
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the main and interactive effects of religiosity, gender, and language preference acculturation on sexual activity among 570 Latino/a adolescents from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Results indicated that adolescents who viewed religion as very important, had frequent church attendance, and had more traditional attitudes on sexuality were less likely ever to have sex compared with adolescents who were less religious. Those with frequent church attendance and high traditional attitudes had fewer lifetime and recent sex partners. Unassimilated religious youth were less likely ever to have sex, had fewer lifetime and recent sexual partners, and a later age of sexual debut. Females were less likely to have had sex, had fewer recent and lifetime partners, and had a later age of coital debut than males. Religiosity had a healthy dampening of sexual activity among Latino/a adolescents and, in particular, among those who were less assimilated.

Comments

Accepted version. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 30, No. 4 (November 2008): 447-462. DOI. © 2008 SAGE Publications. Used with permission.

Citation Information
Lisa Edwards, Richard Fehring, Keyona M Jarrett and Kristin Haglund. "The Influence of Religiosity, Gender, and Language Preference Acculturation on Sexual Activity Among Latino/a Adolescents" Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences (2008) ISSN: 0739-9863
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard_fehring/110/