Identifying the causal pathways from religiosity to delayed adolescent sexual behavior

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.     

Oral Sex: Varied Behaviors and Perceptions in a College Population

Views and behaviors pertaining to oral sex have changed in recent years. This anonymous, online survey posed both old and new questions pertaining to oral sex among a college population. This study not only confirmed previous findings about virgins engaging in oral sex but also found that women reported giving oral sex more often than receiving it from men. Oral sex was not only perceived as less intimate than intercourse but also more likely to be perceived as less intimate by women than men. Participants most frequently endorsed a committed relationship, but not a married relationship, for comfort in engaging in oral sex. Last, college students were more knowledgeable of the sexually transmitted infection risks of oral sex than how to actually protect themselves during oral sex. Additional analyses by gender and virginity were also performed to further understanding of the nuances amongst virgins and women and men.     

Oral sex: varied behaviors and perceptions in a college population

Views and behaviors pertaining to oral sex have changed in recent years. This anonymous, online survey posed both old and new questions pertaining to oral sex among a college population. This study confirmed previous findings about virgins engaging in oral sex, but also found that women reported giving oral sex more often than receiving it from men. Oral sex was not only perceived as less intimate than intercourse, but more likely to be perceived as less intimate by women than men. Participants most frequently endorsed a committed relationship, but not a married relationship, for comfort in engaging in oral sex. Lastly, college students were more knowledgeable of the sexually transmitted infection risks of oral sex than how to actually protect themselves during oral sex. Additional analyses by gender and virginity were also performed to further understanding of the nuances amongst virgins and women and men.     

Genital perceptions and sexual activity in a college population

Anecdotal evidence suggests that perceptions of the genitals—one's own and one's partner's—may be related to enjoyment of sexual activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among genital perceptions and performing and receiving oral sex, penile‐vaginal intercourse, and masturbation. Participants were 160 male and 160 female students at a large Midwestern university. Participants completed a questionnaire in which they indicated how well self‐statements describing genital perceptions and reasons for engaging in and not engaging in sexual activity applied to themselves. The results showed significant correlations between genital perceptions and sexual activity, such that higher levels of participation in and enjoyment of sexual activity, especially oral‐genital behavior, were associated with more positive and fewer negative genital perceptions. Men had more positive genital perceptions than did women for both their own and their sexual partner's genitals. These results are consistent with cultural sexual stereotypes and have implications for sex education and clinical work.     

The Association Between Sexual Behavior and Affect: Moderating Factors in Young Women

Sexual behavior is associated with increased positive affect and decreased negative affect. However, contextual variables such as partner type, behavior type, and condom use may moderate these associations. The goal of the present research was to examine these contextual moderators using monthly longitudinal data from a sample of young women. Female first-year college students (N = 477) completed monthly assessments of their sexual behaviors and positive and negative affect. Participants reported more negative affect in months in which they engaged in sexual behavior compared to months in which they did not. This association was moderated by partner type, such that only sexual behavior with casual partners was associated with increased negative affect. Participants reported more positive affect during months with kissing/touching only compared to months without sexual behavior; however, this association did not differ significantly from the association between oral/vaginal sex and positive affect. Condom use did not moderate the association between vaginal sex and positive or negative affect. In this sample of young women transitioning to college, engaging in sexual behavior was generally associated with negative affect; however, changes in affect depended on partner type and sexual behaviors. Findings have implications for sexual health education.     

An Episodic Analysis of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior in a Racially Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Many studies have examined the relations between drug use and sexual behaviors; however, few have utilized episodic data to examine the co-occurrence of both behaviors within the same episode. This study surveyed 403 racially and ethnically diverse gay, bisexual, and other young men who have sex with men (YMSM; ages 18–29) in New York City. Men were surveyed about their sexual behavior and concurrent use of illicit substances and alcohol during their most recent sexual encounter with their main and/or casual partner(s). Logistic regression models were built to analyze predictors of unprotected oral and anal intercourse with main and casual partners. Results suggest that use of inhalant nitrates and alcohol increased the odds of men engaging in unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI) and men who identified as middle or high socioeconomic status (SES) were at lower odds of engaging in URAI with their main partner. Use of other illicit substances was not associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. These findings indicate a need to further consider the role of licit substances used by YMSM as a means of further reducing the incidence of HIV infection in this population. In addition, the high rates of unprotected anal intercourse among men reporting a main partner has the potential to be a significant source of HIV risk, and should be further explored among YMSM.     

Religiosity,Sexual Behavior,and Contraceptive Use of College Females

Abstract

A multidimensional religiosity scale and a sexual behavior and contraceptive use inventory was completed by 231 female college students. Respondents were classified into groups according to sexual behavior and contraceptive use. The three sexual behavior groups were: females not participating in intercourse during the preceding calendar year; females participating in intercourse with one partner only during the preceding calendar year; and females participating in intercourse with more than one partner during the preceding calendar year. The three contraceptive use groups were: females who had used intercourse-independent methods at last intercourse; females who had used intercourse-dependent methods at last intercourse; and females who had not used a contraceptive or had relied on a relatively ineffective method at last intercourse. Results of two separate analyses indicate that: (1) a set of religiosity items was able to significantly (p © .001) discriminate among the three sexual behavior groups, and (2) a second set of religiosity items was able to significantly (p © .001) discriminate among the three contraceptive use groups. Thus, it seems that females differing in sexual behavior and contraceptive use can be distinguished on the basis of religiosity.     

Community Effects on Youth Sexual Activity

Using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Children, we examined the impact of community socioeconomic status on four dimensions of adolescent and young adult premarital sexual activity—the timing of first intercourse, the frequency of intercourse, the number of different sex partners, and the likelihood of engaging in unprotected intercourse. We found significant positive effects of a multiitem index of community socioeconomic disadvantage on all but the timing of first premarital intercourse, net of controls for the socioeconomic and demographic status of adolescents and their families. None of the most commonly cited explanations for neighborhood effects on adolescent behavior can fully explain these associations. Only the attitudes and behaviors of peers account for even a small portion of the observed impact of community disadvantage on youth sexual behavior. Adolescents' acceptance of premarital childbearing, educational aspirations and attachment to school, and parental supervision, although frequently associated with youth sexual behavior, do little to mediate the impact of community disadvantage on sexual activity.     

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Intention Among College Men: What's Oral Sex Got to Do With It?

Abstract

Objective: To identify associations between engaging in oral sex and perceived risk of oral cancer among college men. Also, to identify associations, and their moderating factors, between oral sex and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine acceptance. Methods: Young men were recruited from 2 university campuses in the South (N = 150). Men completed an audio computer-assisted self-administered interview. Results: With the exception of receiving fellatio, each measure of oral sex behavior was significantly associated with greater perceived risk of oral cancer. Four oral sex behaviors evidenced significant associations with vaccine acceptance. Men engaging in recent oral sex or reporting oral sex behaviors with more than 2 partners were more likely to indicate vaccine intent. African American/black race, communication with parents about sex-related topics, and HPV-related stigma/shame were identified as moderating factors. Conclusion: Young college men giving or receiving oral sex with multiple partners may be predisposed to HPV vaccination.     

Correlates of Oral Sex and Vaginal Intercourse in Early and Middle Adolescence

This study examined whether a comprehensive set of psychosocial factors was equally predictive of both adolescent vaginal intercourse and oral sex among 1,105 adolescents aged 12–16. Logistic regressions were used to examine the relationships between parental communication, religiosity, bonding to school, heavy drinking, sex expectancies, normative beliefs, and both oral sex and vaginal intercourse. Age, gender, bonding to school, heavy drinking, and negative health expectancies predicted both oral sex and vaginal intercourse. Parental communication was associated with vaginal intercourse but not oral sex. Behavior‐specific normative beliefs were differentially associated with oral and vaginal sex.     

Religiosity, denominational affiliation and sexual behaviors among people with HIV in the United States

This study sought to describe religiosity and denominational affiliation among the U.S. population living with HIV and to test whether either is associated with HIV-related sexual risk behaviors. A nationally representative sample of 1,421 people in care for HIV, 932 of whom reported recent sexual activity, was utilized. Religiosity was associated with fewer sexual partners and a lower likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex and in high-risk sex. Catholics were less likely to report unprotected sex than were other Christians, adherents of non-Christian religions, and those reporting no religious affiliation. Catholics were also less likely than other Christians to report high-risk sex and reported fewer sexual partners compared to those of non-Christian religions. We did not observe a difference between Catholics and Evangelicals in the three sexual behaviors investigated. Results suggest that religiosity and some religious teachings may promote safer sex among people with HIV.     

Premarital sexual intercourse: A test of the effects of peer group,religiosity, and sexual guilt

Previous research findings have been inconsistent concerning the influence on a person's sexual behavior of the peer group's sexual behavior and approval. Therefore, in this paper the relative importance of one's closest, friends' sexual behavior, their perceived approval for engaging in premarital coitus. age, sex guilt, and conventional religiosity were examined. Respondents were 467 dormitory students from a large mid‐Atlantic university. Results of separate path analyses for men and women showed that the greater the number of close friends thought to be nonvirgins, the greater the likelihood the man was also nonvirgin. Anticipated approval from close friends was not associated with a man being a nonvirgin. For women, both the sexual behavior and the expected degree of approval from close friends was associated with a woman being a nonvirgin. For both sexes, sex guilt was negatively associated with being a nonvirgin, whereas the respondent's age and degree of conventional religiosity were not associated with the sexual behavior. The findings indicate that researchers should specify whether a peer group's standards, or behavior, is being considered.     

The relation between early abuse and adult sexuality

One thousand and thirty‐two (566 non‐Asian; 466 Asian) undergraduates were assessed in a confidential laboratory setting regarding levels of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and a wide range of sexuality variables. The purpose was to examine relationships between specific forms of early abuse and later adult sexuality, and to assess potential gender and ethnic differences in these associations. Independent of other forms of abuse, sexual abuse in females was significantly positively related to sexual drive and experience, range of sexual fantasies, liberal sexual attitudes, frequency of intercourse and masturbation, and likelihood of engaging in unrestricted sexual behaviors and fantasies, and was negatively related to virginity status. Among males, emotional abuse was significantly associated with poor body image and sexual dissatisfaction, independent of the other forms of abuse. There were no significant differences in associations between early abuse and sexuality between persons of Southeast Asian and European ancestry.     

Testing a theoretical model of adolescent sexual behavior among rural families in poverty

This was a study of 357 adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years, who resided in a family receiving AFDC in 10 rural counties in Arkansas. The study had a twofold purpose: 1) to examine what elements of social control, social learning, and strain theories predicted 3 measures of sexual behavior; and 2) to test an integrated theoretical model with 2-stage least squares regression to see if it fit the data on the 3 measures of sex. The measures of sexual behavior were frequency of sexual intercourse in the past year, number of sexual partners in the past year, and number of sexual partners in lifetime. Bivariate analyses revealed that the consistent predictors of the 3 measures of sex were age, gender, attachment to mother, beliefs, parental supervision and punishment, family and friend support, frustration, and use of rationalizations. The theoretical model that fit all measures of sex showed that bonding influences sexual behavior through frustration, and that age, gender and rationalizations directly impact behavior.     

Theoretical Factors Influencing Adolescent Sexual Behavior: Evidence from a Rural Sample Living in Poverty

ABSTRACT

This study of 414 adolescents who resided in rural Arkansas families receiving AFDC was designed to investigate what theoretical factors predicted frequency of sexual intercourse in the past year prior to the study and number of lifetime sexual partners among males and females. Multivariate analyses indicated that elements of bonding were important to the sexual behavior of females, but not males. On the other hand, feelings of frustration influenced male sexual behavior only. The number of sex partners was increased by associations with sexually active peers for both genders while only females made excuses. The only factor which was associated with both sexual behaviors among both genders was having sex to have a baby to love or to draw a partner closer. The family social work implications of these findings were discussed.     

Heterosexual Women’s and Men’s Labeling of Anal Behaviors as Having “Had Sex”

This study explored labeling of penile–anal intercourse (PAI), manual–anal (MA), and oral–anal (OA) behaviors as having “had sex” among heterosexual men and women with such experience residing in the United States (n = 3,218). Adult men and women completed an online questionnaire assessing sexual behaviors and whether each counted as having had sex. With the exception of anal intercourse, there was high variation in whether a behavior was labeled having had sex. There was not consensus on which anal sexual behaviors constituted having had sex, with attitudes varying across age, gender, and behavioral experience. Those who were older, male, and had the specific behavioral experience were more likely to label it as having had sex. Behaviorally specific assessments of the various anal behaviors as part of the sexual repertoire is critical to more accurate evaluation of sexual histories and assessment of risks to sexual health.     

Mediators of Sexual Revictimization Risk in Adult Sexual Assault Victims

This study examined sexual risk behaviors and sexual refusal assertiveness in relationship to child sexual abuse, emotion dysregulation, and adult sexual revictimization. Path analyses of 1,094 survivors who had sex in the past year were done to examine sexual risk behavior and sexual refusal assertiveness mediational pathways by which child sexual abuse severity and emotion dysregulation may affect revictimization over one year in adult female sexual assault survivors. Exchanging sex for money and sexual refusal assertiveness were significantly associated with emotion dysregulation, whereas exchanging sex for money, and not sexual refusal assertiveness, was only significantly related to child sexual abuse severity. Both exchanging sex for money and sex refusal assertiveness mediated the relationship between emotion dysregulation and adult sexual revictimization. Exchanging sex for money mediated the child sexual abuse severity-revictimization relationship. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering both risky and protective sexual behaviors in research and prevention programming that address sexual revictimization in women.     

Religiosity,sexual behaviors,sexual motivations,and gender: A three-year longitudinal study

Longitudinal data are critical for examining associations of religiosity with sexual behaviors and motivations during college. We use hierarchical linear modeling on five semesters of data from a diverse sample of college students (N = 735) to examine within- and between-person associations between religious service attendance and importance of religion and sexual behaviors and motivations for and against sex and consider gender as a moderator. Between-person religiosity was associated with sexual behaviors and motivations whereas within-person religiosity was not. Students' sexual motivations co-varied across semesters with their religious service attendance and importance of religion. Our results indicated more restrictive associations between religiosity and sexual motivations for women than for men.