The Role of Religiosity in the Relationship Between Parents, Peers, and Adolescent Risky Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Research has documented a negative relationship between religion and risky sexual behavior. Few studies, however, have examined the processes whereby religion exerts this effect. The present study develops and tests a model of various mechanisms whereby parental religiosity reduces the likelihood of adolescents’ participation in risky sexual behavior (early sexual debut, multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use). Structural equation modeling, using longitudinal data from a sample of 612 African American adolescents (55% female), provided support for the model. The results indicated that parental religiosity influenced adolescent risky sexual behavior through its impact on authoritative parenting, adolescent religiosity, and adolescent affiliation with less sexually permissive peers. Some mediating mechanisms differed by the gender of the respondent, suggesting a “double-standard” for daughters but not for sons. Findings also indicated the importance of messages about sexual behavior that are transmitted to adolescents by their peers. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Religiosidade e comportamento desviante na adolescência: dados de um estudo empírico

“…Em suma, acentua-se a importância do melhoramento dos métodos de recolha de dados, recorrendo, por exemplo, a estratégias multi-método. Para além disso, dada a complexidade da relação em estudo, a par da investigação dos efeitos directos, há que continuar a pensar na proposta e teste de modelos explicativos mais abrangentes (v. g., Benda, 2002;Gillett, 2006;Landor, Simons, Simons, Brody & Gibbons, 2010) que considerem os efeitos mediadores ou moderadores de outras variáveis respeitantes, por exemplo, ao género, à família, à cultura e, especialmente, ao grupo de pares, tão marcante para o adolescente que se encontra em pleno processo de construção da sua identidade. Do mesmo modo, seria interessante verificar como esses efeitos eventualmente variam em diferentes fases da vida.…”

Abordagem da sexualidade no diálogo entre pais e adolescentes

“…(1) During this period, the adolescent may experience conflicting feelings, crises, uncertainties, and insecurities, which vary according to personality traits and the cultural, social, and familial contexts in which these adolescents are inserted. (2) This phase of "discovering" one's body and the possibilities it can offer is an essential experience for the assertion of personality and is a period in which adolescents develop stronger bonds with family, school members and social groups. The discovery of the capacity to reproduce encourages the adolescent to develop their own identity and to question values and ideologies.…”

“…The discovery of the capacity to reproduce encourages the adolescent to develop their own identity and to question values and ideologies. (1,2) Amid all these changes, the discovery of sexuality occurs in a unique manner, under the influence of transformations inherent to this phase. Human sexuality is part of the personality of each individual and is a basic need that should be met along with other relevant aspects of life.…”

“…Education emerges as an important ally for both the family and the adolescent by providing accurate information, advice, and the exchange of opinions. (4,6) In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the approach to sexuality in the dialogue between parents and adolescents. This study is expected to help nursing staff intervene in this process with proposals aimed at increasing awareness of sexual and reproductive health.…”

The 2013 Elliott Youth Development Lecture

“…Dr. Simons' lecture was the third in our series (see Levesque 2011Levesque , 2013. Not surprisingly, his research has been featured many times in our journal, with recent research ranging from a focus on corporal punishment (Evans et al 2012;Simons et al 2012), religiosity (Landor et al 2011), and romantic relationships (Kogan et al 2013) to interparental aggression (Su et al 2011) and teen parenting (Barr et al 2013). Currently, his research is concerned with the manner in which social experiences, especially during childhood and adolescence, become biologically embedded and influence mental and physical health.…”