engleski

Associations Between Religiosity and Sexual Risk Taking in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Meta-Analysis

Objective: Although there is some evidence that religiosity may be a protective factor against sexual risk taking in adolescence and emerging adulthood, no attempts have been made to systematically quantify the association. Using data from studies conducted in the 2000-2020 period, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the link between frequency of religious service attendance (extrinsic religiosity), religious faith (intrinsic religiosity), and four sexual risk-taking behaviors in samples of adolescents and emerging adults. Design and Method: Five different search systems were used to conduct a systematic literature search in April 2020. Studies that contained quantitative data on religiosity (extrinsic or intrinsic) and at least one indicator of sexual risk taking (age at sexual debut, number of sexual partners, condom use at most recent sexual intercourse, and consistent condom use) were searched for. A total of 36 articles published in peer-reviewed journals were identified. Random-effects meta- analytic approach was used to assess sexual risk-taking associations with religious service attendance (k = 27, n = 37, 430, Mage = 18.4 years, 44% male), and religious faith (k = 22, n = 41, 758, Mage = 18.9 years, 37% male). Results: The link between religious service attendance and sexual risk taking was significant only for age at sexual debut (r = .09, 95% CI = .05, .13) and the number of sexual partners (r = -.14, 95% CI = -.19, -.09). A weak association between religious faith on the one hand and age at sexual debut (r = .08, 95% CI = .03, .12) and the number of sexual partners on the other hand (r = -.15, 95% CI = -.21, -.09) was found. Conclusions: When religiosity is indicated by the frequency of religious service attendance or religious faith, the current meta-analysis found that religiosity is unlikely to protect young people’s sexual and reproductive health.

Religiosity ; Sexual Risk Taking ; Adolescence ; Emerging Adulthood ; Meta-Analysis

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