The interface between young adults' religious values and their sexual experiences before age 16

Abstract

The interface between religious upbringing and sexuality has been examined extensively in previous research, demonstrating that religious doctrine affects sexual behaviour and identity in a multitude of ways (Dahl & Galliher, 2012; Rostosky, Wilcox, Wright, & Randall, 2004). However, because most of the evidence comes from quantitative survey research, it has been difficult to understand how individuals perceive the links between religious influences and their sexual experiences and identities. The current study used semi-structured, qualitative interviews with 50 Canadian university students who had reported engaging in sexual experiences before the age of 16 to broadly assess these early experiences. A prominent theme emerged in 13 participants' interviews regarding how religious values were perceived to play a role in their understanding of their sexual experiences before age 16. These participants generally reported experiencing emotions, such as guilt and fear, as a result of discrepancies between religious values and their own sexual experiences. Our findings also illustrate how participants dealt with such discrepancies, namely by disengaging from their identified religions, incorporating certain teachings and rejecting others, or pursuing religion for support. Implications for how individuals should manage the interplay between religion and sexuality as well as for how professionals and caregivers should help address such discrepancies are discussed.