Love and Sex Attitudes and Religious Beliefs

Abstract

Previous work has linked religious belief to sexual attitudes. The present research explored an uncharted area—the relationship between conceptions of love and religious belief—but also included the relationship between sex attitudes and religious belief for comparative purposes. In Study 1, college students (n =807) completed a questionnaire on attitudes about love and sex, which contained 42 rating items assessing the six love styles of Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape, and 58 items assessing the sexual attitude dimensions of Permissiveness, Sexual Practices, Communion, and Instrumentality. Strength of religious belief was consistently related to both love and sex attitudes. Study 2 (n =567) yielded results largely consistent with those obtained in the first study. Past research relating religion to sexuality was generally confirmed. Religious belief and love attitudes are suggested as an area for fruitful new research by those involved in the study and treatment of intimate relationships.