The Relationship between Religious Beliefs and Behaviors and the Intention of Premarital Sexual Abstinence among Iranian Youths

Background and objectives : Relatively little is known about the relationship between religion and abstinence. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between religious beliefs and behaviors and the intention of premarital sexual abstinence among Iranian youths. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional one carried out among youths of five universities in Shiraz, Iran. 577 participants were selected through stratified random sampling method. Data were gathered using a researcher-developed questionnaire including three sections: demographic characteristics, religious behaviors, and religious beliefs. The reliability of questionnaire was calculated with Cronbach&rsquo;s alpha coefficient (&alpha;=0.82) and, test-retest method through Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC=0.88). Validity was verified with Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI) by means of expert reviews. Results: A significantly positive correlation was found between religious behaviors and intention of premarital sexual abstinence (P<0.001), religious beliefs and intention of premarital sexual abstinence (P<0.001), and religious behaviors and religious beliefs (P<0.001). Conclusion: The current study concluded that with the increase in religious beliefs and behaviors, the intention of premarital sexual abstinence was enhanced. Therefore, health educators and policy-makers should integrate religion and religious beliefs in their educational programs as one of the main components of health-related programs especially sexual affairs, according to the important role of religion in preventing and controlling premarital sexual intercourse