4. Religion and Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Abstract

/////////////~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ In the United States, about 80 percent of young people experience sexual intercourse at some point during their teenage years (Singh and Darroch 1999). One important but poorly understood pathway that shapes sexual practice is religion and spirituality. There are numerous ways in which reli- gion could affect adolescent sexuality and its practice, including contracep- tive decisions, nonmarital sexual activities, and use of pornography. Religion can also influence sexual choices indirectly through its effects on friendship choices and dating patterns (Wallace and Williams 1997). Yet how religion in fact contributes to sexual values and behaviors is not well documented. Research on religion and adolescent sexual behavior is still considered nascent . . . despite the fact that researchers have been conducting stud- ies on the topic for at least four decades (Whitehead, Wilcox, and Rostosky 2001, 46). This chapter takes a solid step in the direction of making the asso- ciation of religion and adolescent sexuality clearer, drawing upon data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR). I first highlight a number of the key recent studies in the field of religion and adolescent sexual behavior and then outline a conceptual framework by which religious influences on adolescent sexual behavior are typically understood. Finally, I address three research questions: 1. What are current levels of various sexual behaviors (e.g., virginity loss, oral sex, pornography use)? 2. Do these vary by religion—that is, religious affi liation, identity, and behaviors?