The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students

INTRODUCTION Religion, by definition, is a conservative force based upon a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe. These beliefs are mainly based on traditions involving scriptures, prophecy and revelations that have been incorporated into the theories behind a particular religion. The difficulty with religion and traditional beliefs is that they are slow to change; however, the world is ever-changing. Religion, along with peers, parents and the media, is a primary socialization agent for youth. Most conventional religions strongly discourage premarital sexual activity, permissiveness and adultery. Furthermore, the majority of religious teachings are based upon the assumptions that the major purpose of sex is procreation. In contrast to these generally prohibitive sexual ideologies, popular culture and mass media often promote sexual ideals that are mainly characterized by sexual pleasure. A great deal of research effort has been conducted on understanding variables that influence premarital sexual activity among college students. It has been documented that college students engage in a number of behaviors that place them at risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals are more likely to be sexually active during emerging adulthood compared to when in high school, but they are also less likely to use condoms. A study by Reinisch, Hill, Sanders and Ziemba-Davis The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students