Religion, Pledging, and the Premarital Sexual Behavior of Married Young Adults
Abstract
Social scientists know little about the effect of religion and abstinence pledging on premarital sex beyond adolescence. Evidence from a sample of married young adults in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 2,079) reveals that premarital sex is widespread even among religious Americans and abstinence pledgers. Nevertheless, these individuals are much more likely than their counterparts to avoid premarital sex entirely. When they do have premarital sex, pledgers are more likely to restrict the behavior to their future spouse. Though contextual, exposure, and social control effects explain some of the influence of religion and abstinence pledging, religion and abstinence pledging appear to exert robust, direct effects on premarital sexual behavior.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Of the 38 methodologically most rigorous marital instability studies, 35 (92%) reported significant relationships between R/S and greater marital stability.
“Of the 38 methodologically most rigorous studies, 35 (92%) reported significant relationships between R/S and greater marital stability [255–265].”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [261]
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 [336]
Cites
Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties.
Arnett, J. J. (2000) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.55.5.469 · Cited by 16,843 · see citing works
Acock, A. (2005) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00191.x · Cited by 1,955 · see citing works
The Measure of American Religion: Toward Improving the State of the Art
Steensland, B., Robinson, L. D., Wilcox, W. B., Park, J. Z., Regnerus, M., & Woodberry, R. D. (2000) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/79.1.291 · Cited by 1,825 · see citing works
The Measure of American Religion: Toward Improving the State of the Art
Steensland, B., Park, J. Z., Regnerus, M., et al. (2000) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2675572 · Cited by 1,095 · see citing works
Soul searching: the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers
(2005) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.43-2154 · Cited by 991 · see citing works
Chandra, A., Martinez, G. M., Mosher, W. D., Abma, J. C., & Jones, J. (2005) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e414702008-001 · Cited by 957 · see citing works
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers
Smith, C., & Denton, M. L. (2005) · doi:10.1093/019518095x.001.0001 · Cited by 861 · see citing works
Theorizing Religious Effects Among American Adolescents
Smith, C. S. (2003) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.1111/1468-5906.t01-1-00158 · Cited by 691 · see citing works
Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and First Intercourse
Bearman, P., & Brückner, H. (2001) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/320295 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Reciprocal Effects of Religiosity, Cohabitation, and Marriage
Thornton, A., Axinn, W. G., & Hill, D. H. (1992) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/230051 · Cited by 427 · see citing works
Santelli, J. S., Lowry, R., Brener, N. D., & Robin, L. (2000) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.90.10.1582 · Cited by 420 · see citing works
Religion as a Determinant of Economic and Demographic Behavior in the United States
Lehrer, E. L. (2004) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2004.00038.x · Cited by 409 · see citing works
After the promise: The STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges
Brückner, H., & Bearman, P. (2005) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.01.005 · Cited by 353 · see citing works
The Impact of Religiosity on Adolescent Sexual Behavior:
Rostosky, S. S., Wilcox, B. L., Wright, M. L. C., & Randall, B. A. (2004) · Journal of Adolescent Research · doi:10.1177/0743558403260019 · Cited by 351 · see citing works
Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social-psychological study over time.
Jessor, S. L., & Jessor, R. (1975) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0076664 · Cited by 341 · see citing works
The Changing Demography of America's Families
Teachman, J. D., Tedrow, L. M., & Crowder, K. D. (2000) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.01234.x · Cited by 337 · see citing works
The Influence of School Enrollment and Accumulation on Cohabitation and Marriage in Early Adulthood
Thornton, A., Axinn, W. G., & Teachman, J. D. (1995) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2096321 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
Coital debut: The role of religiosity and sex attitudes in the add health survey
Rostosky, S. S., Regnerus, M. D., & Wright, M. L. C. (2003) · The Journal of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/00224490209552202 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Sex Differences in the Entry Into Marriage
Goldscheider, F. K., & Waite, L. J. (1986) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/228464 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
Factors Contributing to Increasing Marital Stability in the United States
Heaton, T. B. (2002) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/0192513x02023003004 · Cited by 297 · see citing works
Ellison, C. G., & Sherkat, D. E. (1995) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/73.4.1415 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
Advantages of Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Osborne, J. W. (2020) · Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · doi:10.7275/pmgn-zx89 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954–2003
Finer, L. B. (2007) · Public Health Reports · doi:10.1177/003335490712200110 · Cited by 254 · see citing works
Premarital Sex, Premarital Cohabitation, and the Risk of Subsequent Marital Dissolution Among Women
Teachman, J. D. (2003) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00444.x · Cited by 247 · see citing works
Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers
Regnerus, M. (2007) · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Regnerus, M. (2007) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195320947.001.0001 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
The Janus report on sexual behavior
(1993) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.30-6452 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
“Render Unto Caesar What Is Caesar's”: Religiosity and Taxpayers' Inclinations to Cheat
Grasmick, H. G., Bursik, R. J., & Cochran, J. K. (1991) · The Sociological Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1533-8525.1991.tb00356.x · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Religiosity and sexual risk-taking behavior during the transition to college
Zaleski, E. H., & Schiaffino, K. M. (2000) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1006/jado.2000.0309 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
The Janus Report on Sexual Behavior.
Greely, A. M., Janus, S. S., & Janus, C. L. (1994) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2075206 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Friends’ religiosity and first sex
Adamczyk, A., & Felson, J. (2005) · Social Science Research · doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2005.04.003 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Selection Effects in Studies of Religious Influence
Regnerus, M., & Smith, C. S. (2005) · Review of Religious Research · doi:10.2307/4148279 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Religious Heritage and Premarital Sex: Evidence from a National Sample of Young Adults
Beck, S. H., Cole, B. S., & Hammond, J. A. (1991) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.2307/1387211 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
The Relationship of Substance Use to Sexual Activity Among Young Adults in the United States
Graves, K. L., & Leigh, B. C. (1995) · Family Planning Perspectives · doi:10.2307/2135972 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Explaining Race and Gender Differences in Adolescent Sexual Behavior
Lauritsen, J. L. (1994) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2579784 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Reborn a Virgin: Adolescents’ Retracting of Virginity Pledges and Sexual Histories
Rosenbaum, J. E. (2006) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2005.063305 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Explaining Race and Gender Differences in Adolescent Sexual Behavior
Lauritsen, J. L. (1994) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/72.3.859 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Secularization and the Influence of Religion on Beliefs about Premarital Sex
Petersen, L. R., & Donnenwerth, G. V. (1997) · Social Forces · doi:10.1093/sf/75.3.1071 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Religiosity and Sexual Responsibility: Relationships of Choice
Davidson, J. K., Moore, N. B., & Ullstrup, K. M. (2004) · American Journal of Health Behavior · doi:10.5993/ajhb.28.4.5 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Premarital Sex and the Risk of Divorce
Kahn, J. R., & London, K. A. (1991) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.2307/352992 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Xu, X., Hudspeth, C. D., & Bartkowski, J. P. (2005) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/0192513x04272398 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Religiosity and Premarital Sex in Adulthood
Barkan, S. E. (2006) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.1111/j.1468-5906.2006.00315.x · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Religion, Religiosity, and Nonmarital Sexual Conduct: An Application of Reference Group Theory
Cochran, J. K., Chamlin, M. B., Beeghley, L., & Fenwick, M. (2004) · Sociological Inquiry · doi:10.1111/j.1475-682x.2004.00081.x · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Secularization and the Influence of Religion on Beliefs about Premarital Sex
Petersen, L. R., & Donnenwerth, G. V. (1997) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2580531 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Himmelfarb, H. S. (1980) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.2307/1386017 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Holman, T. B., & Harding, J. (1996) · Review of Religious Research · doi:10.2307/3512540 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Pluhar, E., Frongillo, E. A., Stycos, J. M., & Dempster‐McClain, D. (1998) · Journal of Sex Education and Therapy · doi:10.1080/01614576.1998.11074264 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
The Substitution Hypothesis: The Impact of Premarital Liaisons and Human Capital on Marital Timing
Gaughan, M. (2002) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00407.x · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Religious Orthodoxy and Premarital Sex
Clayton, R. (1969) · Social Forces · doi:10.2307/2574536 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Premarital sexual careers and partner change
Tanfer, K., & Schoorl, J. J. (1992) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/bf01542716 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Religious Denominational Policies on Sexuality
Bullis, R. K., & Harrigan, M. P. (1992) · Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services · doi:10.1177/104438949207300506 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications
Koenig, H. G. (2012) · ISRN Psychiatry · doi:10.5402/2012/278730 · Cited by 2,423 · see citing works
“%) reported significant relationships between R/S and greater marital stability [255–265].”
Background“Hooking Up” Among College Students: Demographic and Psychosocial Correlates
Owen, J. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Fincham, F. D. (2010) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-008-9414-1 · Cited by 399 · see citing works
Allison, R., & Risman, B. J. (2014) · Sociological Perspectives · doi:10.1177/0731121413516608 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Broken Promises: Abstinence Pledging and Sexual and Reproductive Health
Paik, A., Sanchagrin, K. J., & Heimer, K. (2016) · Journal of Marriage and Family · doi:10.1111/jomf.12279 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Jones, A. C., Johnson, N. C., Wenglein, S., & Elshershaby, S. T. (2019) · Journal of Marital and Family Therapy · doi:10.1111/jmft.12344 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Uecker, J. E.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Uecker, Jeremy E.
- ORCID
- Uecker, Jeremy E.
- Venue
- Journal of Marriage and Family
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-07-16
- Volume
- 70
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 728-744
- ISSN
- 0022-2445 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-3737
- OpenAlex
- W2029383180
- Semantic Scholar
- 0d9b051ff7d42f26d5c6edc7140edd6e80f54757
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Marriage and the Family (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Texas at Austin
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- religion, premarital sex, sexual behavior, social control, contextual effects, exposure effects, adolescent sexual behavior, Add Health
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
