Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia
Introduction: Risky sexual behavior is defined as a behavior that increases one’s risk of contracting or being infected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancies. This study examined the relationship between religiosity and risky sexual behavior among adoles...
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| Format: | Article |
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Canadian Center of Science and Education
2020
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| Online Access: | https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/1260/ |
| _version_ | 1848801651873284096 |
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| author | Albeny Joslyn Panting, Yong, Teresa Sui Mien |
| author_facet | Albeny Joslyn Panting, Yong, Teresa Sui Mien |
| author_sort | Albeny Joslyn Panting, |
| building | OUM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: Risky sexual behavior is defined as a behavior that increases one’s risk of contracting or being
infected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancies. This study examined
the relationship between religiosity and risky sexual behavior among adolescents in the state of Sarawak,
Malaysia.
Methods: The inclusion criteria included 1,146 unmarried adolescents aged between 16 and 19 years, whereby
they answered a validated self-administered questionnaire using the modified Religion Scale and Risky Sexual
Behavior – Unsafe Sex Scale. The analysis was restricted to respondents who reported to have had sex.
Results: Overall, the response rate recorded 95% (n=1,086), whereby the prevalence of respondents who reported
that they have had sex was 9.5%, n=103 (71 males, 32 females, mean age 17.82). Descriptive results further
showed that the prevalence of those who have had sex for male and female were 6.53% and 2.94%, respectively.
The earliest sexual debut was revealed to be at 13 years of age. Moreover, bivariate analyses indicated a significant
and negative correlation between religious practice and risky sexual behavior (r= -.23; p<.05).
Conclusion: The study revealed that religious adolescents are more likely to avoid risky sexual behavior. This
means that religious practice may become a potential protective factor in influencing adolescents to avoid risky
sexual behaviors. (Abstract by authors) |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T21:10:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:eprints.oum.edu.my:1260 |
| institution | Open University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T21:10:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Canadian Center of Science and Education |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:eprints.oum.edu.my:12602020-11-11T13:35:45Z Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia Albeny Joslyn Panting, Yong, Teresa Sui Mien HM Sociology HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform Introduction: Risky sexual behavior is defined as a behavior that increases one’s risk of contracting or being infected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancies. This study examined the relationship between religiosity and risky sexual behavior among adolescents in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. Methods: The inclusion criteria included 1,146 unmarried adolescents aged between 16 and 19 years, whereby they answered a validated self-administered questionnaire using the modified Religion Scale and Risky Sexual Behavior – Unsafe Sex Scale. The analysis was restricted to respondents who reported to have had sex. Results: Overall, the response rate recorded 95% (n=1,086), whereby the prevalence of respondents who reported that they have had sex was 9.5%, n=103 (71 males, 32 females, mean age 17.82). Descriptive results further showed that the prevalence of those who have had sex for male and female were 6.53% and 2.94%, respectively. The earliest sexual debut was revealed to be at 13 years of age. Moreover, bivariate analyses indicated a significant and negative correlation between religious practice and risky sexual behavior (r= -.23; p<.05). Conclusion: The study revealed that religious adolescents are more likely to avoid risky sexual behavior. This means that religious practice may become a potential protective factor in influencing adolescents to avoid risky sexual behaviors. (Abstract by authors) Canadian Center of Science and Education 2020 Article PeerReviewed text https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/1260/7/ReligiosityriskysexualbehamongadolescentsinSarawakMalaysiaPantingSui-Mien2020p49-57.pdf Albeny Joslyn Panting, and Yong, Teresa Sui Mien (2020) Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia. Global Journal of Health Science, 12 (13). pp. 49-57. ISSN 1916-9744 (e-ISSN) https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/1260/ |
| spellingShingle | HM Sociology HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform Albeny Joslyn Panting, Yong, Teresa Sui Mien Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title | Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title_full | Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title_short | Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents in Sarawak, Malaysia |
| title_sort | religiosity and risky sexual behavior among adolescents in sarawak, malaysia |
| topic | HM Sociology HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform |
| url | https://library.oum.edu.my/repository/1260/ |