title: Project genesis: self-reported religiosity and spirituality and sexual risk-taking in young African-American women attending a historically African-American college.
abstract: This pilot study explored the relationship between self-reported religiosity, spirituality, and sexual risk-taking. The participants were a convenience sample of (N = 100) female students attending a historically African-American college (HBCU) in the south. On this predominantly female campus, students completed an anonymous health-risk survey, plus additional items, to measure their religiosity and spirituality. Correlation analysis revealed that although these students reported a high degree of religiosity and spirituality, these characteristics did not predict a decrease in sexual risk-taking behavior. Over six million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human papilloma virus (HPV), are projected in young Americans despite primary prevention measures. Although no predictive relationships were noted, self-reported spirituality or religiosity were not protective factors against high-risk sexual behavior. These findings are relevant to developing effective interventions in this population in order to decrease STI/HPV rates.
authors: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30032, USA. tami.thomas@emory.edu
authors: Tami L
authors: TL
authors: Thomas
authors: Arin
authors: A
authors: Freeman
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012067:Religion; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D001741:Black or African American