Religiosity and the Transition to Nonmarital Parity

Citation

Lyons, H. A. & Smith, S. J. (2014). Religiosity and the Transition to Nonmarital Parity. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. vol. 11 (2) pp. 163-175 , PMCID: PMC4186654

Abstract

Nonmarital parity is associated with several negative outcomes, including health problems, educational problems, and poverty. Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with nonmarital parenthood can inform policy and interventions, reducing both the incidences and associated consequences. The current study focuses on how intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity (the degree to which individuals or groups employ religious ideology in forming values and making decisions) are related to the timing of nonmarital parity using discrete time hazard modeling of a nationally representative sample of adolescent females (N = 7,367) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The majority of the sample (86 %) claimed a religious affiliation and almost a third (32 %) had a nonmarital birth during the study. Even though the majority of the sample is White (67 %), Black and Hispanic females were more likely to experience a nonmarital birth. Results indicate that intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and religious affiliation assert protective effects for some populations while religious affiliation increases risk in the full model. Recommendations for policy, intervention, and future research are offered. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs13178-014-0153-x

Keyword(s)

Add Health

Notes

Export Date: 31 March 2014

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Sexuality Research and Social Policy

Author(s)

Lyons, H. A.
Smith, S. J.

Year Published

2014

Volume Number

11

Issue Number

2

Pages

163-175

ISSN/ISBN

18689884 (ISSN)

DOI

10.1007/s13178-014-0153-x

PMCID

PMC4186654

NIHMSID

NIHMS606422

Reference ID

4894