Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 42205331 DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2025.2583153
Adverse Adolescent Experiences and Condomless Sex Among Heterosexual and Sexually Minoritized African American Adolescents: Religious Participation as a Buffer.
Int J Sex Health 38(2):580-594
Authors: Jun Sung Hong, Jinwon Kim, Dexter R Voisin, Lois M Takahashi
Affiliations
- School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Social Welfare, Hyupsung University, Hwaseong-si, South Korea.
- Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- College of Social Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA.
Abstract
Objective: The present study examines whether religious participation buffers the association between adverse adolescent experiences and condom use and whether findings might differ by sexual identity. Method: In this exploratory study, a cross-sectional survey, which was administered between August 2013 and January 2014 to 230 adolescents identifying as heterosexual and 56 identifying as sexual minorities in Chicago, is analyzed. The moderating role of religious participation is assessed to clarify how religious participation might buffer the association between adverse adolescent experiences (i.e., neighborhood violence exposure, bullying victimization, and witnessing adverse parental experiences) and condomless sex. Results: The results suggest that religious participation is significant in moderating condomless sex, but only for sexually minoritized respondents. Religious participation is significant in lower reported condomless sex for heterosexual respondents, but only when they also report neighborhood violence exposure. Conclusion: Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
MeSH
Buffers, Condoms, Adolescent, Sex, Unsafe Sex