At the Crossroads of Sexuality and Spirituality: The Sanctification of Sex by College Students

This study examines the intersection between spirituality and premarital sexuality. College students from a Midwestern university (N = 151) completed measures of their beliefs about the sanctification of sexual intercourse in loving, nonmarital relationships. A subsample of 65 participants completed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal for the psychology of religion 2005-01, Vol.15 (3), p.199-219
Main Authors: Murray-Swank, Nichole A, Pargament, Kenneth I, Mahoney, Annette
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Premarital relationships
Religiosity
Sexuality
Spirituality
Undergraduate students
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Summary:This study examines the intersection between spirituality and premarital sexuality. College students from a Midwestern university (N = 151) completed measures of their beliefs about the sanctification of sexual intercourse in loving, nonmarital relationships. A subsample of 65 participants completed parallel measures regarding current sexual relationships. Greater sanctification was related to increased sexual satisfaction in this subgroup. Increased belief in the sanctification of sexual intercourse was related to increased sexual behavior in the total sample. Finally, the sanctification of sexual intercourse demonstrated incremental validity in the prediction of sexual behavior and satisfaction beyond the effects of attitudes toward premarital sex, dating status, and general religiousness. Overall, these results suggest that sanctification is a unique and useful way to examine the connection between sexuality and spirituality. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:1050-8619