Identifying the Causal Pathways from Religiosity to Delayed Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Abstract

This study used the Integrative Model as a framework to examine whether religiosity delays onset of coitus among a longitudinal sample of virgins, and investigated the causal pathways of this relationship. In addition, this study examined the behavioral beliefs about the consequences of engaging in sex, which distinguishes between youth who vary in level of religiosity. A further analysis was also conducted to examine whether religiosity offers protective effects in terms of progression toward sexual intercourse on a sexual behavior index. The sexual behavior index assumes a progressive nature of sexual behaviors, and includes the following seven behaviors: kissing, having breasts touched (touching for boys), genital touching, receiving oral sex, vaginal intercourse, giving oral sex, and receiving (or giving) anal sex. Religiosity at baseline was negatively associated with sexual debut one year later. This relationship was mediated through attitudes toward personally engaging in sexual intercourse. Religiosity at baseline was also negatively associated with scores on the sexual behavior index one year later. These results suggest that religiosity offers protective effects for both coital and noncoital sexual behaviors.

Acknowledgments

This publication was made possible by Grant No. 5R01HD044136 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NICHD.

Notes

Note. Row means sharing the same superscript are significantly different. STD = sexually transmitted disease.

¹Participation in a free lunch program was excluded from these analyses because it was nonsignificant in previous analyses, as well as in this analysis.

Note. All correlations are discernable from zero at p < .05. All items were measured at Time 1, except where noted.

^a Time 2.

Note. N = 288. Entries are standardized regression coefficients. Italicized coefficients are significant at p < .05; χ²(16) = 26.11, p < .05 (comparative fit index = 0.96; root mean square error of approximation = 0.05).

Note. N = 326. Coefficients are standardized betas. Italicized coefficients are significant at p < .05. Reference group for religiosity = frequent attendance.