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Cited by 119Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyReligion and Society InteractionsLGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Associations Between Religiosity and Sexuality in a Representative Sample of Australian Adults

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Visser, Richard O. de, Smith, Anthony M. A., Richters, Juliet, Rissel, Chris E.·2007·Archives of Sexual Behavior
DOI 10.1007/s10508-006-9056-0
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Abstract

Many studies have examined the influence on sexual attitudes and behavior of religious belief (i.e., religious denomination) or religiosity (e.g., attendance at services, subjective importance of religion). However, few studies have examined the combined effects of religion and religiosity on sexual attitudes and behavior. This study examined such effects in a representative sample of 19,307 Australians aged 16-59 years (response rate, 73.1%). The study compared members of four religious groups (Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim) and two levels of frequency of attendance at religious service (less than monthly, at least monthly). Religious participants were compared to their non-religious peers in analyses adjusted for potential confounding by demographic variables. The outcomes were five sexual behaviors and five corresponding measures of sexual attitudes. The study revealed inconsistent patterns of association between religion/religiosity and a range of sexual behaviors and attitudes. In general, greater attendance at religious services was associated with more conservative patterns of behavior and attitudes. However, religious people who attended services infrequently were more similar to their non-religious peers than their more religious peers. The results of this study highlight the importance of considering not only religion or religiosity, but the intersection between these two variables.

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  • Of the 50 highest-quality risky sexual activity studies, 42 (84%) reported inverse relationships and none found a positive one.

    “Of the 50 highest quality studies, 42 (84%) reported inverse relationships [333–343] and none found a positive one.”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [334]

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Authors
Visser, R. O. D., Smith, A. M. A., Richters, J., & Rissel, C. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Sussex (GB)
  • La Trobe University (AU)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • Sydney South West Area Health Service (AU)
Corresponding author
Visser, Richard O. de
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2006-11-30
Volume
36
Issue
1
Pages
33-46
ISSN
  • 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2800
DOI
10.1007/s10508-006-9056-0
OpenAlex
W2138770773
Cited by
119
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • University of New South Wales
  • NSW Ministry of Health
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
Keywords
religiosity, sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, religious service attendance, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam, non-religious people
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Attitude to Health, Australia, Coitus, Cultural Characteristics, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Religion and Psychology, Religion and Sex, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Health Behavior

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