Conservative Sexual Attitudes Research Articles

Role of Church Affiliation and the Sexual Behaviour Choices of Students in Selected Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Purpose: The current study sheds light on the role of church affiliation in shaping sexual attitudes and behaviour. Not enough was known about how Christianity can influence the construction of values and beliefs that discourage risky sexual behaviour among adolescents at universities in Kenya. Little was understood on the role of church affiliation explaining variation in adolescent sexuality among Christian communities at universities. Spirituality is an understudied subtype of religiosity yet it may explain patterns of sexual behaviour. Most studies that have examined the relationship between sexual behaviours and religiosity have focused on sexual intercourse. These studies have not examined other sexual behaviour choices, like internet sex.
 Methodology: Using a mixed-methods design, the relationship between church affiliation and sexual behaviour was examined. In quantitative analysis, a stratified probability sample of (n=176 students) who attend regular prayer sessions in three universities: the Kenyatta University (KU) Main Campus, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Karen Campus, and the Daystar University was used. Qualitative interviews were conducted with university administrators, chaplains, and other church workers. Undergirding the study was the social identity theory, which articulates the idea of people seeking to gain membership and acceptance in any social group.
 Findings: The findings suggest church affiliation has a significant effect on sexual attitudes, values, and behaviour. There seems to be an interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity, with frequent church attendance appearing to induce more conservative sexual beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. Church affiliation had a significant effect on sexual behaviour choices, which includes internet sex and cohabitation and extreme sexual activities.

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

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.

The Sexual Attitudes of Iranian Students

Background: Sexual attitudes are a central concept in the study of sexuality and may largely influence the decision-making of the youth to engage in premarital sexual relations. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the sexual attitudes (permissive/conservative) of Iranian students. Methods: This study was conducted on 280 students (170 females and 110 males) who were selected via multistage random sampling from the students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran. Data were collected using the short-form sexual attitude scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using the factorial analysis of variance. Results: A significant difference was observed between the male and female students in terms of sexual attitudes as the sexual attitude of the female students was conservative, while the sexual attitude of the male students was permissive. In addition, sexual attitudes differed significantly between age groups as the students aged 18 - 22 years had conservative sexual attitudes, while those aged 23 - 26 years had permissive sexual attitudes. Conclusion: The results of this survey could guide psychologists and counselors in helping students with the issues regarding premarital sex and the prevention of high-risk sexual behaviors.

Is Homosexuality in the Priesthood Diminishing? Evidence from Sexual Attitudes, Behaviors, and Contexts of Catholic Clergy in the United States

This study explores the results of the 2021 Survey of American Catholic Priests, an effort to replicate the 2002 Los Angeles Times survey of priests, in evaluating stability and change in the sexual beliefs, dispositions, and behaviors of Catholic priests in the United States. Reinforcing widespread perceptions, we find that younger priests hold more conservative sexual attitudes than their older counterparts. We also find them to be less likely to report homosexual attraction, and we perform a very basic projection of the future sexual orientation composition of the US clergy using baseline assumptions and a cohort replacement model. We find that orientation and orthodoxy are intertwined, with heterosexual priests reporting higher celibacy adherence and belief that behaviors identified by the Church as sins are in fact sins. Our analyses further suggest that the present lower clergy supply is largely explicable by a decline in progressive priests.

How do romantic breakups affect depression among American college students? The role of sexual conservativeness

Objective The role of sexual attitudes has been largely ignored in explaining different emotional reactions to breakups among young adults. The authors examined the role of conservative sexual attitudes as a moderator of the relationship between breakups and depressive symptoms. Participants: Participants were 428 undergraduate students at a mid-western university. Data collection was completed in 2013. Methods: Participants completed the questionnaires in class or at home in this cross-sectional survey. OLS regression and Structural equation modeling were used in data analysis. Results: Increased level of sexual conservativeness significantly exacerbated depression after the breakup for those college students who reported sexual behavior with their ex-partner. Conclusions: Although conservative sexual attitudes may show positive effects in promoting healthy sexual behavior, it was found here to be detrimentally related to depression after breakups for college students. This information may help university counselors gain a deeper understanding of post-breakup depression of college students.

Parent-adolescent sexual dialogue

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the content and approach of parent-adolescent communication about sexuality were associated with three adolescent sexuality variables (sexual attitudes, combination of all behaviors and advanced behaviors).Design/methodology/approachSurvey research with adolescents was conducted in classrooms at school. Participants were 473 adolescents (196 males, 253 females and 24 unreported) in grades 9–12 from two high schools (one urban and one suburban) in a large midwestern city.FindingsAdolescents who described their parents’ communication approach as open, or who did not engage in conversations about sexuality with their parents reported lower rates of sexual behavior, when compared to adolescents whose parents dictated such conversations. Females were found to have more conservative sexual attitudes than males, and both mothers and fathers were found to have a direct role in talking to their children about sexuality.Originality/valueFindings from the study may offer guidance to parents and help adults aiming to empower youth to make healthy sexual decisions.

Adolescent Girls’ Disclosure About Dating and Sexuality

Adolescents disclose information about romantic relationships and sexuality to family members and friends, but little is known about the correlates of this disclosure. We examined adolescent girls’ ( N = 68; 34 sister dyads) choice of disclosure partner regarding thoughts/concerns about dating and sexuality. Adolescents were more likely to choose mothers and sisters (compared with friends) as disclosure partners regarding dating and sexuality topics. Using multilevel modeling, we also examined romantic relationship and sexual correlates of disclosure partner selection. Adolescents’ disclosure to mothers and sisters was associated with positive relationships. We also found that adolescents who selected mothers as disclosure partners for sexuality reported greater romantic relationship intimacy and adolescents who selected friends as disclosure partners for sexuality reported less conservative sexual attitudes than other adolescents. Furthermore, our findings revealed that adolescents’ choice of disclosure partner was associated with their sexual attitudes, and these associations differed by topic and sibling status.

Sexual Double Standards in White and Asian Americans: Ethnicity, Gender, and Acculturation

This study compares attitudes of sexual double standards (beliefs that grant more sexual freedom to men than to women) in White and Asian Americans. 506 heterosexual participants living in the U.S. (334 Whites and 172 Asians aged 18–45) answered questions assessing their attitudes towards men and women displaying various liberal sexual behaviors. Asian participants also indicated their levels of American acculturation and Asian cultural affiliation. The study found significant evidence of sexual double standards in both Whites and Asians, with certain ethnically different patterns. Whites and Asians did not differ significantly in their levels of sexual double standards when it concerned casual sexual and multiple sexual partners at the same time. However, Asians expressed stronger support for double standards than Whites when evaluating people for taking the initiative in sex and for having a large accumulated number of sexual partners. In both ethnic groups, men demonstrated stronger double standards than did women. Both Whites and Asians, regardless of gender, reported more conservative sexual attitudes for choosing marriage partners than in judging people in general. In the case of Asians, American acculturation and Asian cultural affiliation had limited and gender-specific effects on endorsement of sexual double standards. This study not only addresses an important gap in the sexual double standards literature but also brings new insights to the general discussion of ethnic differences in sexual attitudes.

Effectiveness of the sexual attitude restructuring curriculum amongst Taiwanese graduate students

This article discusses the effectiveness of the Sexual Attitude Restructuring (SAR) curriculum in developing positive sexual attitudes amongst Taiwanese graduate students in human sexuality. Through purposive sampling, 32 graduate students in human sexuality were selected to participate in the study. Before and after providing participants with a 16-week SAR curriculum, the Sexual Attitude Scale and focus group interviews were used for data collection using a quasi-experimental design. Findings indicate that the SAR curriculum led to positive changes in students’ attitudes. This change was especially significant for those who had more conservative or negative sexual attitudes. A thematic analysis of the interview transcripts shows that the students saw their attitudes towards sexuality changing due to the desensitisation, sensitisation and integration effects of the learning activities. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for further studies and the use of SAR curriculum as part of the education of sexuality and health professionals.

Sociodemographic Correlates of Sexlessness Among American Adults and Associations with Self-Reported Happiness Levels: Evidence from the U.S. General Social Survey.

Although sexual activity is commonly believed to be a key component of emotional well-being, little is known about the factors associated with the absence of sexual activity or its associations with self-reported happiness. Using the U.S. General Social Survey-National Death Index 2008 dataset, a series of nationally representative surveys (1988-2002), this study analyzed the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with past-year sexlessness and self-reported happiness among American adults (n=17,744). After adjustment for marital status, there were no significant time trends evident in the proportion of American adults reporting past-year sexlessness. Among participants (age=18-89years), 15.2% of males and 26.7% of females reported past-year sexlessness while 8.7% of males and 17.5% of females reported no sex for 5years or more. For both genders, past-year sexlessness was most strongly associated with older age and being currently non-married in the multivariable models. Among males, the multivariable analysis also showed that sexlessness was associated with providing less than 20% of the household income (OR 2.27). In female participants, sexlessness was associated with very low income, poor health, lower financial satisfaction, absence of children, and having conservative sexual attitudes (OR 1.46-3.60). For both genders, Black race was associated with a much lower likelihood of sexlessness among currently non-married adults. The purported detrimental impact of sexlessness on self-reported happiness levels was not evident in this large, nationally representative study after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Sexless Americans reported very similar happiness levels as their sexually active counterparts.

The Impact of Religious Commitment on Women’s Sexual Self-Esteem

Religious commitment is associated with decreased sexual activity, poor sexual satisfaction, and sexual guilt, particularly among women. The purpose of this paper was to investigate how religious commitment is related to sexual self-esteem among women. Participants included 196 female undergraduate students, 87 % of whom identified as Christian. Participants completed the Sexual Self-Esteem Inventory for Women (SSEI-W), Religious Commitment Inventory-10, Revised Religious Fundamentalism Scale, Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale, and a measure of their perception of God’s view of sex. Results suggested that women with high religious commitment held more conservative sexual attitudes. Significant relationships between religious commitment and two subscales (moral judgment and attractiveness) of the SSEI-W revealed that women with high religious commitment were less likely to perceive sex as congruent with their moral values and simultaneously reported significantly greater confidence in their sexual attractiveness. A significant relationship between religious commitment and overall sexual self-esteem was found for women whose religion of origin was Catholicism, such that those with higher religious commitment reported lower sexual self-esteem. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that high religious commitment and perception that God viewed sex negatively independently predicted lower sexual self-esteem, as related to moral judgment. Implications of the findings are provided.

Risk and protective factors for sexual and dating violence victimization: a longitudinal, prospective study of Latino and African American adolescents.

Teen dating violence and sexual victimization are serious public health concerns. Although research has highlighted the correlates and consequences of such abuse, little is known about early antecedents. The current study sought to identify the risk and protective factors evident in early adolescence that are associated with sexual and dating violence victimization in late adolescence. The sample involved 236 (52% female) low-income Latino (69%) and African American (31%) youth, their older sisters, and their mothers who were studied when youth were, on average, ages 13 and 18 years. The results indicated that early indicators of a risky lifestyle (e.g., getting drunk, having sex) and having deviant friends and siblings were associated with a higher likelihood of subsequent victimization. Mothers' early strictness, monitoring, and conservative sexual attitudes predicted a lower likelihood of subsequent assault and served as significant buffers given specific risks, particularly for girls and Latinos. The findings suggest that behavior and social network patterns established relatively early in life increase one's vulnerability to victimization later in life, as well as point to aspects of parenting that serve a protective function against such outcomes.

Characteristics of youth who report early sexual experiences in Sweden.

Early timing of first sex is a common risk factor for adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. This study explored characteristics and circumstances associated with early sexual experience (at or below age 14) among Swedish youth. Data were drawn from UngKAB09, a national study of youth SRH in Sweden. 24,000 youth 16-28 years were randomly selected for a web-based survey with a response rate of 24%. Post-stratification weights were used to correct for over- and underrepresentation in response. Adjusted logistic regression was used to model associations with early sexual experience, by gender. In the final sample (N = 5,321, 49% girls), 9 in 10 were sexually experienced, of whom 21% reported early first sex. In multivariate analysis, early sex was significantly associated with 7 of the 9 predictor variables selected for the model among boys and 14 of 15 selected factors among girls. Early sex was positively associated with low educational attainment, early pubertal onset, bisexual identity and (girls only) rural residence. For girls, first generation immigrant status, greater religiosity, conservative sexual attitudes and low Chlamydia knowledge decreased the odds of early sex. Early experience was more common if youth had older partners and, among girls, felt that sex was expected. Being in love, feelings of intimacy, alcohol use at first sex, and (girls only) causal sexual partner and wantedness of first sex were inversely associated with early first sex. The findings and implications are discussed in relation to the European and global literature on early sexual experiences.

Differences in Emerging-Adult Women's Body Image and Sexuality Outcomes According to BMI and Dating Status

ABSTRACT. Emerging adulthood is a crucial time for the development of body image and sexuality concerns among women. We collected self-reported data from 184 women to determine possible differences according to body mass index (BMI) classification and dating status. Multivariate analyses of variance and follow-up univariate analyses of variance were conducted to determine differences in body image and sexuality outcomes according to both BMI (normal weight vs. overweight) and dating status (dating vs. not dating) as well as interaction effects of BMI and dating status. First, results indicated differences between normal-weight and overweight women for body satisfaction, body self-consciousness, and body image avoidance. Overweight women had lower satisfaction, higher self-consciousness, and more avoidance. Differences were also found between women who were dating and those who were not dating for body satisfaction and self-consciousness: Women not dating had lower satisfaction and higher self-consciousness. Second, whereas results indicated that women of varying BMIs did not differ on sexuality outcomes, differences were found according to dating status for sexual attitudes, esteem, and self-schema, such that women not dating had more conservative sexual attitudes, less sexual esteem, and lower self-schemas. No significant interaction effects were found.

북한이탈주민 여성의 성기능 실태 및 영향요인

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the female sexual dysfunction of North Korean defector women and to identify related factors. Methods: A total of 110 North Korean defector women who married and lived in South Korean community more than 1 year participated in this study. A self-report questionnaire was used to obtain data. The dependent variable is the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Independent variables were demographic factors (age, education, residential environment, sexual experience(rape), sex knowledge and sex attitude). Data were analyzed using the SPSS for descriptive statistics, t-test, two-way ANOVA, and Multiple Hierarchical Regression. Results: The mean score of sexual function for North Korean defectors was 18.94(SD:5.88). Sexual functioning for North Korean defector women was relatively low, 18.94 in comparison to Rosen's cutoff scores of 26.6. In multiple regression analysis, the sexual function level was significantly higher in elderly, high educational level, stable residential situation, non rape, and conservative sexual attitudes. Conclusions: The results show the status and description of sexual dysfunction in North Korean Women defectors in South Korean community and can be a basic reference for study about sexual dysfunction. However, more study about North Korea Defector Women with sexual dysfunction should be interviewed and evaluated.

Personality traits as predictors of sexual attitudes in a sample of Greek University students

Previous studies have shown the relation of dogmatism to political, religious and racial attitudes, but few have explored if this finding can be extended generally to sexual attitudes. This study explored if the findings can be extended to sexual attitudes by examining if religious fundamentalism, political conservatism, years of education, age and geographic immobility could predict (1) sexual attitudes and (2) early sexual experience. The sample (N = 215) consisted of undergraduates from a public university in Greece. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict sexual attitudes (using the Attitude Scale of the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory) and early sexual experience (age of first coital experience). The results suggested that religious fundamentalism and political conservatism were significant predictors of conservative sexual attitudes. Political conservatism was also a significant predictor of earlier sexual experience. The results did not support the assumption that politically conservative students will have a delayed sexual involvement. They suggested that while political conservatives hold more traditional sexual attitudes, they do not necessarily report behaviour that is consistent with these attitudes.

The Effects of Male Attractiveness and Sexual Attitudes on Women’s Risk Perception

This study examined the effects of male attractiveness, sexual attitudes, and victimization history on women's ratings of sexual risk. Women with more liberal sexual attitudes rated vignettes as less sexually risky than women with more conservative sexual attitudes. There was an interaction between situational risk and attractiveness, suggesting the relationship between attractiveness and sexual risk ratings varies across high and low situational risk. Findings emphasize the importance of using high and low risk situations to evaluate sexual risk perception and of investigating variables that may moderate women's risk perception.

College Students' Permissive Sexual Attitudes: Links to Religiousness and Spirituality

Clear associations exist between religiousness and conservative sexual attitudes, but there is a paucity of research on spirituality's interaction. In this study, the authors examined the link between 297 male and 642 female college students' reports on sexual attitudes coupled with multidimensional measures of intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects of spirituality and religiousness. Results indicated significant links between private religious practices, daily spiritual experiences, and conservative sexual attitudes for all respondents. However, for male but not female participants, self-reported spirituality had significant inverse correlation with permissive sexual attitudes. Further, spiritual disclosure and self-reported extent of religiousness were related to female participants' reports of more conservative sexual attitudes. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses found that spirituality provided unique variance toward conservative sexual attitudes for male but not female participants. Implications of these findings are discussed.

The influence of rape myth acceptance, sexual attitudes, and belief in a just world on attributions of responsibility in a date rape scenario

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of rape myth acceptance, belief in a just world, and sexual attitudes on attributions of responsibility in a date rape scenario. We predicted that people higher in rape myth acceptance and those who more strongly believed in a just world, as well as those who held more conservative sexual attitudes, would attribute greater blame to the accuser than to the accused. Methods. One hundred seventy‐two undergraduates from a medium‐sized, Catholic university in the USA read a hypothetical date rape scenario and completed the Rape Myth Acceptance Scale, the Just World Scale, the Sexual Attitudes Scale, and a Judgment Questionnaire constructed for the current study. Results. Rape myth acceptance mediated the relationship between gender and judgments of responsibility for the accused and the accuser. Men were more likely to endorse rape myths and, consequently, assign less responsibility to the accused and more responsibility to the accuser than women. Conclusions. Pre‐existing beliefs regarding the nature of rape and the circumstances surrounding it may bias attributions of responsibility in date rape cases. There may be utility in addressing whether jurors hold such beliefs prior to the start of a trial.

Gender, religiosity and self-esteem as predictors of sexual attitudes of students in a Nigerian tertiary institution

Several studies on sexual attitudes among students in Nigeria have focused on university students; leaving out other categories of students in tertiary institutions. This study therefore investigated gender, religiosity and self esteem as predictors of sexual attitudes among polytechnic students in Nigeria. Using a cross sectional survey design, five hundred (500) students (212 males and 288 females) were purposively selected for the study. Questionnaire comprises of demographic information, self esteem scale and sexual attitudes scale was used for data collection. The participants‟ ages range from 15 to 35 years (X=22.28, SD= 3.17). Results showed that religiosity independently and significantly predicted sexual attitudes (β = .16; P<.05). All the predictor variables jointly predicted sexual attitudes F (9,436) = 2.12, P<.05 with 40% variation in dependent variable. There was no gender difference in sexual attitudes of students (t=-1.14; df =498; P>.05). Self-esteem did not significantly influence sexual attitudes of students (t=0.37; df =498; P>.05. The finding suggests continuous religious inculcation in the mind of the Nigerian students in the tertiary institutions and their frequent involvement in religious activities to promote conservative sexual attitudes and help reduce sexual risk behavior in the population.Keywords: Sexual attitudes, self-esteem, religiosity, gender, tertiary institutions, students