Impacts of Religiosity and Spirituality on Attitudes towards Sexuality Education among Adolescents

Abstract

The efficacy of school-based sexuality education (SBSE) is associated with adolescents’ attitudes towards sexuality and SBSE. Adolescents are in stage of development during which religiosity and spirituality become a source of influence on their sexual attitudes, which in turn affects their views on SBSE. Western literature suggested that higher levels of religiosity and spirituality are related to conservative sexual attitudes and negative attitude towards comprehensive SBSE. This study examined if Western findings on religiosity and spirituality were applicable to Hong Kong where the society is dominated by values of Chinese culture. A total of 818 secondary school students were recruited for this study via convenience sampling. A questionnaire containing items on demographic characteristics and measuring instruments was developed for data collection. The data revealed that students participated in this study were low in religiosity but relatively high in spirituality. Consistent with Western findings, religious affiliations were association with conservative sexual attitudes, which was accounted for by the mediation of religiosity. Lower levels of religiosity and spirituality were associated with more liberal sexual attitudes. Male students generally hold more permissive attitudes towards sexuality than female students, but female students were more liberal on issues such as abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. As reported in the West, secondary school students in Hong Kong also showed great support for SBSE. Inconsistent with Western findings, students with more conservative sexual attitudes were more supportive of SBSE. Higher levels of religiosity and spirituality were associated more positive attitudes towards SBSE. Furthermore, female students were more supportive of SBSE than male students. These incongruent findings were discussed with reference to the social context of Hong Kong.