The Relation Between Sexual Behavior and Religiosity Subtypes: A Test of the Secularization Hypothesis

Abstract

Previous literature on religion and sexual behavior has focused on narrow definitions of religiosity, including religious affiliation, religious participation, or forms of religiousness (e.g., intrinsic religiosity). Trends toward more permissive premarital sexual activity in the North American Christian-Judeo religion support the secularization hypothesis of religion, which posits an increasing gap between religious doctrine and behavior. However, the recent rise of fundamentalist and new age religious movements calls for a reexamination of the current link between religion and sexual behavior. The use of dual definitions of religiosity, including religious affiliation and dimensional subtypes, may further characterize this link. The present cross-sectional study evaluated patterns of sexual behavior in a young adult sample (N = 1302, M age = 18.77 years) in the context of the secularization hypothesis using religious affiliation and a liberal-conservative continuum of religious subtypes: paranormal belief, spirituality, intrinsic religiosity, and fundamentalism. Results indicated few affiliation differences in sexual behavior in men or women. Sexual behaviors were statistically predicted by spirituality, fundamentalism, and paranormal belief, and the endorsement of fundamentalism in particular was correlated with lower levels of female sexual behavior. The secularization hypothesis was supported by consistent levels of sexual activity across affiliations and is contradicted by the differential impact of religiosity subtypes on sexual behavior. Findings suggested that the use of religious subtypes to evaluate religious differences, rather than solely affiliation, may yield useful insights into the link between religion and sexual behavior.

Intersección de la espiritualidad/religión en las conductas sexuales de los/as adolescentes

“…Cuadernos de Trabajo Social, 21, 2014, pp. 193-213 -ISSN 1133 Los resultados del estudio, desde el marco del conglomerado de participantes (religiosos y no religiosos), respaldan el rol de la religión como factor proscriptor e inhibidor de las relaciones sexuales antes del matrimonio, lo que es cónsono con las múltiples investigaciones realizadas sobre el tema (Burdette y Hill, 2009;Farmer, Trapnell y Meston, 2008;Haglund y Fehring, 2010;Hardy y Raffaelli, 2003;Morales Alejandro, 2014;Noden, Gomes y Ferreira, 2010;Rotosky, Regnerus y Comer, 2003;Sinha, Cnaan y Gelles, 2007;Spearman, 2006. Los resultados parecen mostrar el compromiso de los/as religiosos/as con sus creencias religiosas cuando piensan que Dios ve sus acciones; asisten varias veces a la semana a las actividades de su iglesia; se identifican como religiosos y espirituales; y realizan diversas prácticas religiosas.…”

“…A estas se les adjudica influenciar directamente en la decisión de posponer, reducir y evitar la primera relación sexual (Davidson, Moore, Earle y Davis, 2008;Farmer, Trapnell y Meston, 2008;Hardy y Raffaelli, 2003;Rotosky, Regnerus y Comer, 2003). Se ha encontrado que los/as jóvenes que dan mayor importancia a la religión y asisten más frecuentemente a los servicios religiosos, tienen actitudes más restrictivas hacia el sexo premarital, reportan menos experiencia sexual, son más propensos a retrasar las relaciones sexuales y a tener menos parejas sexuales (Haglund y Fehring, 2010;Remez, 1990).…”

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“…Las hipótesis de esta investigación anticiparon que existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<.05) en las conductas sexuales de los/as participantes religiosos/as y los/as no religiosos/as; entre los valores de la escala la Influencia de la Espiritualidad en las Conductas Sexuales; el involucramiento en actividades sexuales sustitutivas a la relación coital; y por género en sus Los resultados del estudio, desde el marco del conglomerado de participantes (religiosos y no religiosos), respaldan el rol de la religión como factor proscriptor e inhibidor de las relaciones sexuales antes del matrimonio, lo que es cónsono con las múltiples investigaciones realizadas sobre el tema (Burdette y Hill, 2009;Farmer, Trapnell y Meston, 2008;Haglund y Fehring, 2010;Hardy y Raffaelli, 2003;Morales Alejandro, 2014;Noden, Gomes y Ferreira, 2010;Rotosky, Regnerus y Comer, 2003;Sinha, Cnaan y Gelles, 2007;Spearman, 2006. Los resultados parecen mostrar el compromiso de los/as religiosos/as con sus creencias religiosas cuando piensan que Dios ve sus acciones; asisten varias veces a la semana a las actividades de su iglesia; se identifican como religiosos y espirituales; y realizan diversas prácticas religiosas.…”

The Role of Religiousness and Gender in Sexuality Among Mexican Adolescents

“…Most studies assessing the role of religious affiliation in sexual behavior have been conducted among adolescents and emerging adults in the United States (Farmer, Trapnell, & Meston, 2008;Gillum & Holt, 2010). These studies suggest that the largest differences in sexual behavior are between those who affiliate with a religious institution and those who are nonreligious (Farmer et al, 2008;Gillum & Holt, 2010).…”

“…These studies suggest that the largest differences in sexual behavior are between those who affiliate with a religious institution and those who are nonreligious (Farmer et al, 2008;Gillum & Holt, 2010). Nonreligious adolescents report the youngest ages at first intercourse compared to Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Mormons, and other religious groups (Regnerus, 2007).…”