Benue State University, Makurdi

THE PROTECTIVE IMPACT OF RELIGIOSITY ON RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIORS: THE CONFOUNDING ROLES OF SEX, AGE AND EXTRAVERSION TRAIT

Olawa Babatola, Aroso Sarah, Ayodele Isreal & Ajiboye Adedotun
(Department of Psychology, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria +2347062663826, uchoaondoaver@yahoo.com)

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated religiosity as a protective factor in risky sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults. However, it is suggested in the present study, that the negative relationship established between religiosity and risky sexual behavior may be a spurious one considering the interconnectedness of gender, age and extraversion with these variables. In this regard, this study examined whether the negative relationship between religiosity and risky sexual behavior would exist or disappear after controlling the confound roles of sex, age and extraversion trait. Using the multi-stage sampling method, a sample of 252 undergraduates (Males = 130; Females = 122) of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria with a mean age of 20.79 years completed three validated self-report instruments measuring religious faith, perceived social support, personality and risky sexual behaviors. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results indicated that gender [â= .28, p < .0001], age [â= .16, p = .005] and extroversion [â= .15, p = 2 .013] predicted RSB [F (5, 244) = 14.96, p < .0001, R = .24]. After controlling for gender, age and extraversion, increase in religious faith still predicted risky sexual behaviors [â= -.23, p < .0001]. This suggests that religious faith may actually serve as an aversion to engaging in risky sexual behaviors among adolescents and young adults. Therefore, interventions for premarital sex and risky sexual behaviors should be more intensified by religious organizations in order to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, out of wedlock births and abortions.

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