Hale, Kaysi; Anderson, Chris (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Anderson, Chris (Utah Valley University, Psychology)
While there is significant data on adolescent sexual activity, education, and attitudes, there is little research done on adults who choose to stay abstinent, especially in the United States. Religiosity plays a significant role in reducing sexual behaviors before marriage. Many Christian faiths teach that sex should only be engaged in after marriage, so many followers choose to stay abstinent until marriage. Education about sex contributes to individuals choosing to stay abstinent and/or choosing to use safe-sex practices. Gender is not a large factor when considering reasons why individuals choose to stay abstinent; women have slightly lower rates of pre-marital sex at 94%; men at 96%. Sexual health and sexual well-being are difficult to define, but especially challenging when trying to define it for those choosing to stay abstinent into adulthood. The proposed study will sample an anticipated 200 self-reported abstinent undergraduates at Utah Valley University. This university has a high proportion of Christian students who are predominantly members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Data will be collected about why the students report they are remaining sexually abstinent as well as their sexual attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and feelings about their own sexuality. Correlations can be drawn between religiosity, gender, age, perceived healthy attitudes towards individual sexuality, feelings about sexual stimulating behavior, among other factors. This paper will contribute to the standing data about religiosity and sexuality. It will enhance the literature about how abstinent adults feel about their own sexuality.