Michael Young

Relationship between Religiosity and “Hooking Up” Behavior

Abstract Background: “Hooking up” behaviors, or sexual activities without commitment or emotional attachment, are occurring among college students. Purpose: This study examined the relationship between hooking up and two measures of religiosity. Methods: Data was obtained from students at a mid-southern university (n=459). Results: Most respondents indicated that they have hooked up. Males (64%) were more likely to report the behavior than females (47%). Religious attendance and religious belief played a significant role in distinguishing between those who have and have not participated in hooking up behaviors. Discussion: Results indicate religiosity may determine involvement in casual high-risk sexual encounters that expose college students to sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Translation to Health Education Practice: Results should be of value to college-level sexuality educators and considered by those involved in sexual health programming on college campuses.

An evaluation of an abstinence education curriculum series: sex can wait.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of an abstinence education curriculum series on student outcomes. METHODS The series was taught at upper elementary, junior high, and high school levels. A questionnaire was administered to all intervention and comparison students before and after implementation of the curriculum. RESULTS At the upper elementary level, the curriculum group had better outcomes on knowledge, self-efficacy, and a more hopeful outlook; at the middle school level no differences; at the high school level, findings favored the curriculum group on attitude, behavioral intent, and sexual behavior variables. CONCLUSION Results are encouraging and should be considered by those interested in helping young people postpone sexual involvement.

SEXUAL SATISFACTION AMONG MARRIED WOMEN AGE 50 AND OLDER

Correlates of sexual satisfaction were identified in a sample of older married women. A 70-item questionnaire was mailed to an age-stratified sample of 5,000 married persons, including 1,000 married women over the age of 50. Usable questionnaires were received from 148 participants (14.8% return rate) Hierarchical multiple regression analysis, using sexual satisfaction as the dependent variable, yielded five predictor variables that accounted for a significant portion of the variation in sexual satisfaction (Cumulative R2 = .73). These results serve as a reminder that sexual interactions cannot be compartmentalized but must be considered within the context of the overall marriage relationship. Given the low return rate, interpretations should be limited until replication with an adequate sample has been completed.

The Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Behaviors of College Students

Abstract Sexuality is considered by most religious traditions to represent general temptation, procreation or a way to strengthen emotional bonds. The purpose of this study was to determine if frequency of religious attendance and perceived degree of religiosity could distinguish between those students who have and have not participated in selected sexual behaviors. Data were collected from a convenience sample of undergraduate students (n = 408) at a southeastern university. Students voluntarily completed a questionnaire in a regular classroom setting. The questionnaire elicited information regarding the frequency of attendance at religious services, perceived strength of religious feelings, perception of Gods view of sex, and participation in the following sexual behaviors: sexual intercourse (ever, last year and last month), giving oral sex (ever and last month), receiving oral sex (ever and last month), and anal sex (ever). Data were analyzed using both univariate analysis (chi-square and analysis of variance) and logistic regression. Results indicated that religiosity variables, especially frequency of religious attendance and religious feelings, were significant predictors of sexual behavior. Results should be considered by those working with college students in the area of human sexuality.

Evaluation of a Parent Child Drug Education Program.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a parent-child drug education program. One thousand four hundred and forty-seven fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students and 2,036 of their parents participated in the study. Results indicated that the program produced changes in the responses of children and their parents to questions concerning attitudes, use, perceptions of use, and intended use of drugs.

Area specific self-esteem, values, and adolescent substance use.

The use of illicit and licit drugs continues to be a major public health concern. Many prevention and drug education programs address this issue by attempting to enhance self-esteem. The idea is that increased levels of self-esteem will serve as a protective factor in decreasing the motivation and increasing the resistance to use drugs. This study explored the relationship between area specific self-esteem and adolescent substance use. Participants (n = 700) completed a self-report questionnaire which included items measuring the use and expected use of selected substances. Results indicated significant differences in home and school self-esteem scores between users/expected users and non-users of a given substance for all 14 behavioral measures. Additionally, the peer, home, and school sub-scales as a set were found to distinguish between users and non-users for all 14 behavioral measures. Results should be of value to those designing prevention programming.

The Impact of Abstinence Education: What Does the Research Say?.

Abstract There has long been controversy in this country about the implementation of school-based sexuality education. In recent years, however, the controversy has centered on abstinence education. Critics of abstinence education programs seem to have three major concerns relative to abstinence education programming: (1) promotion of religion; (2) provision of inaccurate information; and (3) ineffective programming. The focus of this article is on the charge that abstinence education programs are ineffective in reducing risky sexual behavior among teens. Since the federal government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on programs that must meet the a-h definition of abstinence education this is an important public policy issue. This article includes a review of published evaluations of abstinence education programs (limited to evaluations that addressed behavioral outcomes), commentary on aspects of Doug Kirbys analysis of the effectiveness of abstinence programs, as well as commentary on Robert Rectors defense of the effectiveness of abstinence programs. Additionally, other evaluation issues are addressed, such as apparent opposition to evaluation efforts, concerns with the evaluations of state abstinence education programs, concerns with federally funded evaluation efforts, and evaluation requirements of federal funding agencies.

Attitudes of Nursing Students toward Patients with Aids

Nursing students (N = 124) voluntarily completed a questionnaire designed to measure attitudes towards patients with AIDS. The questionnaire included one of two vignettes, a prejudicial evaluation scale, and the Index of Homophobia. Results indicate that nursing students expressed a significantly more negative attitude toward the homosexual patient with AIDS. Homophobia accounted for a substantial amount of variation in the difference in expressed attitude between heterosexual and homosexual AIDS patients. The researchers recommend that nursing students and other prospective health care workers be provided educational programs dealing with AIDS which include study of homophobia and homosexuality.

Modified stages of acquisition of gateway drug use : A primary prevention application of the stages of change model

The purpose of the study was to identify the stages of acquisition of gateway drugs in fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. The Stages of Acquisition model is a primary prevention application of the Stages of Change model. The subjects in the study were 811 students from seventeen elementary schools in Arkansas and Missouri. The instrument elicited information regarding the stages of acquisition and individual self-reported drug use. The data were analyzed using frequency, distribution, discriminant analysis, and correlation analyses. Stage placement was confirmed using a series of drug use measures. Results confirmed the existence of discrete stages of acquisition. Results supported the concept of gateway drugs in that subjects indicated they had progressed further through the stages of acquisition of alcohol use than through the stages of acquisition of cigarettes use, smokeless tobacco use, or marijuana use.

Predictors of Quality of Life, Sexual Intercourse, and Sexual Satisfaction among Active Older Adults

Abstract Background: Relatively little is known about the sexual behaviors of older people, and the relationship between quality of life and sexuality has not been fully explored. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of sociological, cultural, and psychological factors to further explain variance beyond biological changes that influence participation in sexual intercourse, sexual satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Methods: Data were collected using a mixed-mode approach to optimize participant response and coverage. Residents of a large active retirement community served as the study participants. Results: Logistic regression identified a set of biopsychosocial variables which significantly distinguished between those who participate and do not participate in sexual intercourse. Multiple regression procedures identified sets of variables that significantly predicted sexual satisfaction and quality of life. Discussion: Overall findings add to the existing body of literature on aging, sexual health, and quality of life. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health professionals should develop interventions that provide education about sexuality to enhance sexual satisfaction and quality of life among community dwelling older adults. Penhollow TM, Young M, Denny G. Predictors of quality of life, sexual intercourse, and sexual satisfaction among active older adults.