Abstract
Research has examined the relationship between religiosity and sexuality but few studies have explored the mechanisms by which
sexual variables are influenced by religiosity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of sex guilt
in the relationship between religiosity and sexual desire in women. Euro-Canadian (n = 178) and East Asian (n = 361) female university students completed a battery of questionnaires. Higher levels of religious fundamentalism, intrinsic
religiosity and spirituality were associated with higher levels of sex guilt in both ethnic groups. Paranormal belief was
not associated with sex guilt in either ethnic group. The Euro-Canadian women reported significantly higher levels of sexual
desire and significantly less sex guilt than the East Asian women. Among the Euro-Canadian women, sex guilt mediated the relationships
between spirituality and sexual desire, and fundamentalism and sexual desire; among the East Asian women, sex guilt mediated
the relationships between spirituality and sexual desire, fundamentalism and sexual desire, and intrinsic religiosity and
sexual desire. These findings suggest that sex guilt may be one mechanism by which religiosity affects sexual desire among
women.
sexual variables are influenced by religiosity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of sex guilt
in the relationship between religiosity and sexual desire in women. Euro-Canadian (n = 178) and East Asian (n = 361) female university students completed a battery of questionnaires. Higher levels of religious fundamentalism, intrinsic
religiosity and spirituality were associated with higher levels of sex guilt in both ethnic groups. Paranormal belief was
not associated with sex guilt in either ethnic group. The Euro-Canadian women reported significantly higher levels of sexual
desire and significantly less sex guilt than the East Asian women. Among the Euro-Canadian women, sex guilt mediated the relationships
between spirituality and sexual desire, and fundamentalism and sexual desire; among the East Asian women, sex guilt mediated
the relationships between spirituality and sexual desire, fundamentalism and sexual desire, and intrinsic religiosity and
sexual desire. These findings suggest that sex guilt may be one mechanism by which religiosity affects sexual desire among
women.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9918-6
- Authors
- Jane S. T. Woo, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Negar Morshedian, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Lori A. Brotto, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel St., 6th Floor, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
- Boris B. Gorzalka, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002