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The Relationship between Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Religiosity, and Moral Disapproval
Eli Coleman1, Todd Jennings2, Neil Gleason3
1Institute for Sexual and Gender Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy
|September 10, 2022
Summary
Religiosity and moral disapproval are linked to compulsive sexual behavior (CSB). Specific religious orientations and rigid belief adherence predict greater CSB, with moral disapproval mediating these connections.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) is often linked to religiosity and moral disapproval of sexual acts.
- These concepts are frequently conflated when examining moral incongruence.
- Prior research has not fully elucidated the nuanced relationships between specific religious orientations, moral disapproval, and CSB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between various religious orientations and compulsive sexual behavior (CSB).
- To examine the mediating role of moral disapproval in the relationship between religiosity and CSB.
- To differentiate the contributions of specific religious factors to CSB.
Main Methods:
- Survey methodology was employed to assess religious orientations and CSB.
- Mediation analysis was utilized to test the indirect effects of religious orientations on CSB through moral disapproval.
- Participants' religious orientations were categorized based on commitment and rigidity.
Main Results:
- Religious orientations characterized by strong commitment to beliefs and rigid adherence predicted increased CSB.
- Moral disapproval significantly mediated the relationship between several religious orientations and CSB.
- Findings highlight distinct pathways through which religiosity influences compulsive sexual behavior.
Conclusions:
- Religiosity and moral disapproval are interconnected constructs crucial for understanding CSB.
- Specific facets of religious belief, such as commitment and rigidity, are significant predictors of CSB.
- Moral disapproval acts as a key mechanism linking certain religious orientations to compulsive sexual behavior.
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