Gender, self esteem, religiosity and premarital sex among young adults

Abstract

The increasing rate of spread of HIV, especially among the age range of 14 and 21 is becoming disturbing to the nongovernmental organizations and world governments in general. Therefore, this study was to determine the  significant relationship among self esteem and religiosity, on premarital sex. Using convenience sampling, the participants were students from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye Ogun State. There were 247 participants, which were made up of 126 (51.0%) males and 121 (49.9%) females, with a mean age of 26years (SD=6.12) The participants filled out a demographic questionnaire and three surveys: the Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale, a Religiosity Scale, and the premarital sex scale. No significant interaction was found between religiosity and self-esteem. [F (1,
243) = 2.26, P>.05] The result also revealed the significantly influence of religiosity on premarital sex. [t (245) = -3.32, P<.05]. However, there was a significant interaction effect on religiosity and gender. [F(1,243) = 10.48, <.05]. The study concluded that the type of secondary school attended would also influence ones engagement in premarital sex. [t (245) = 3.06, P<.05]. The result therefore implicate the need for religious heads to encourage their followers to engage in religious activates and also the state and at local level should make policies that would encourage
people to engage in their religious believes. The university should have a standard church and mosque on school campus.