Abstract
Research has documented a negative relationship between religion and risky sexual behavior. Few studies, however, have examined
the processes whereby religion exerts this effect. The present study develops and tests a model of various mechanisms whereby
parental religiosity reduces the likelihood of adolescents’ participation in risky sexual behavior (early sexual debut, multiple
sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use). Structural equation modeling, using longitudinal data from a sample of 612
African American adolescents (55% female), provided support for the model. The results indicated that parental religiosity
influenced adolescent risky sexual behavior through its impact on authoritative parenting, adolescent religiosity, and adolescent
affiliation with less sexually permissive peers. Some mediating mechanisms differed by the gender of the respondent, suggesting
a “double-standard” for daughters but not for sons. Findings also indicated the importance of messages about sexual behavior
that are transmitted to adolescents by their peers. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
the processes whereby religion exerts this effect. The present study develops and tests a model of various mechanisms whereby
parental religiosity reduces the likelihood of adolescents’ participation in risky sexual behavior (early sexual debut, multiple
sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use). Structural equation modeling, using longitudinal data from a sample of 612
African American adolescents (55% female), provided support for the model. The results indicated that parental religiosity
influenced adolescent risky sexual behavior through its impact on authoritative parenting, adolescent religiosity, and adolescent
affiliation with less sexually permissive peers. Some mediating mechanisms differed by the gender of the respondent, suggesting
a “double-standard” for daughters but not for sons. Findings also indicated the importance of messages about sexual behavior
that are transmitted to adolescents by their peers. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-010-9598-2
- Authors
- Antoinette Landor, Department of Child and Family Development, 123 Dawson Hall, University of Georgia, 305 Sanford Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Leslie Gordon Simons, Department of Child and Family Development, 208 Family Science Center (House A), University of Georgia, 403 Sanford Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Ronald L. Simons, Department of Sociology, Baldwin Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Gene H. Brody, Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Frederick X. Gibbons, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, 6207 Moore Hall, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891