Developmental trajectories of religiosity, sexual conservatism and sexual behavior among female adolescents.
Understanding the role of socio-sexual cognitions and religiosity on adolescent sexual behavior could guide adolescent sexual health efforts. The present study utilized longitudinal data from 328 young women to assess the role of religion and socio-sexual cognitions on sexual behavior accrual (measuring both coital and non-coital sexual behavior). In the final triple conditional trajectory structural equation model, religiosity declined over time and then increased to baseline levels. Additionally, religiosity predicted decreased sexual conservatism and decreased sexual conservatism predicted increased sexual behavior. The final models are indicative of young women's increasing accrual of sexual experience, decreasing sexual conservatism and initial decreasing religiosity. The results of this study suggest that decreased religiosity affects the accrual of sexual experience through decreased sexual conservatism. Effective strategies of sexual health promotion should include an understanding of the complex role of socio-sexual attitudes with religiosity.
Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. Electronic address: maalsma@iu.edu.
Matthew C
MC
Aalsma
Stacy E
SE
Woodrome
Sarah M
SM
Downs
Devon J
DJ
Hensel
Gregory D
GD
Zimet
Don P
DP
Orr
J Dennis
JD
Fortenberry
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001741:Black or African American; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012071:Religion and Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescence; Longitudinal study; Religion; Sexual behavior; Sexual conservatism