Sexuality and Religiosity: an integrative literature review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i2.12540

Keywords:

Religiosity; Sexuality; Health / disease process; Care; Health.

Abstract

The influence of religion on human sexual practices has been studied over the years. The objective was to know the national and international scientific production about the relationship between sexuality and religiosity from 2012 to 2017. This is an integrative literature review. Scielo, Pubmed and BVS databases were consulted and the 167 articles were found, 40 of them being selected following the recommendations of the Prisma strategy. The results pointed to 3 thematic categories, namely: religiosity as a risk or protection factor in sexuality during the health/illness process, religiosity and sexuality in the life cycle and in population groups, and religiosity and sexuality in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. It was concluded that religion could interfere in the health-disease process; studying it is necessary for the understanding of the individual in different spheres, so that proposals of interventions can be applied according to the needs of the subject.

References

Camboim, A., & Rique, J. (2010). Religiosidade e espiritualidade de adolescentes e jovens adultos. Rev Brasil Hist Relig., 3(7), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.4025/rbhranpuh.v3i7.30336.

Cantarino, S. G., Pinto, J. M. M, Fabião, J. A. S. A. O., García, A. M. C., Abellán, M. V., & M Rodrigues, M. A. (2016). The Importance of Religiosity/Spirituality in the Sexuality of Pregnant and Postpartum Women. PLOS ONE, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156809

Catré, M. N. C., Ferreira, J. A., Pessoa, T., Catré, A., & Catré, M. C. (2016). Espiritualidade: Contributos para uma clarificação dos conceitos. Análise Psicológica, 34(1), 31–46. https://dx.doi.org/10.14417/ap.877

Coutinho, R. Z., & Miranda-Ribeiro, P. (2014). Religião, religiosidade e iniciação sexual na adolescência e juventude: lições de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática de mais de meio século de pesquisas. Revista Brasileira de Estudos de População, 31(2), 333–365. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-30982014000200006

Couto, P. L. S., Paiva M. S., Gomes, A. M. T., Boa Sorte, E. T., Rodrigues, L. S. A., & Coelho, E. A. (2017). Significados a respeito da prevenção ao HIV/aids e da sexualidade para jovens católicos. Rev Gaúcha Enferm., 38(4). https://www.scielo.br/pdf/rgenf/v38n4/1983-1447-rgenf-38-04-e2016-0080.pdf

Couto, P. L. S. (2016). A influência da religião católica entre os/as jovens sobre o exercício da sexualidade e a prevenção do HIV/AIDS. [Dissertação de Mestrado, Escola de Enfermagem - Universidade Federal da Bahia]. https://repositorio.ufba.br/ri/handle/ri/18652

David, B. E., & Weitzman, G. A. (2015). Sexuality in advanced age in Jewish thought and law. J Sex Marital Ther, 41(1), 39–48. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24313599

Drabble, L., Trocki, K. F., & Klinger, J. L. (2016). Religiosity as a protective factor for hazardous drinking and drug use among sexual minority and heterosexual women: Findings from the National Alcohol Survey. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 161, 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.01.022

Felitti, K. (2016). El ciclo menstrual en el siglo XXI. Entre el mercado, la ecología y el poder femenino. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad (Rio de Janeiro), (22), 175–208. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-6487.sess.2016.22.08.a

Garofalo, R., Kuhns, L. M., Hidalgo, M., Gayles, T., Kwon, S., Muldoon, A. L., & Mustanski, B. (2015). Impact of Religiosity on the Sexual Risk Behaviors of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men. Journal of sex research, 52(5), 590–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2014.910290

Gattis, M. N., Woodford, M. R., & Han, Y. (2014). Discrimination and depressive symptoms among sexual minority youth: is gay-affirming religious affiliation a protective factor?. Archives of sexual behavior, 43(8), 1589–1599. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0342-y

Gibbs, J. J., & Goldbach, J. (2015). Religious Conflict, Sexual Identity, and Suicidal Behaviors among LGBT Young Adults. Arch Suicide Res., 19(4), 472–488. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1004476

Gomes, N., Farina, M., & Forno, C. (2014). Spirituality, Religion and Religion: Concepts Reflection in Psychological Articles. Revista de Psicologia da IMED, 6(2), 107–112. https://doi.org/10.18256/2175-5027/psico-imed.v6n2p107-112

Gyimah, S., Kodzi, I., Emina, J., Cofie, N., & Ezeh, A. (2013). Religion, religiosity and premarital sexual attitudes of young people in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Biosocial Science, 45(1), 13–29. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021932012000168

Heeren, G. A., Icard, L. D., O'Leary, A., Jemmott, J. B., 3rd, Ngwane, Z., & Mtose, X. (2014). Protective factors and HIV risk behavior among South African men. AIDS and behavior, 18(10), 1991–1997. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0767-2

Helena, L. S. M., & Polakiewicz, R. R. (2015). Coping religioso-espiritual e profissionais da saúde que atuam na área de saúde mental e psiquiatria. Biológicas & Saúde, 5(18). https://doi.org/10.25242/88685182015771

Hill, N. J., Siwatu, M., & Robinson, A. K. (2014). “My Religion Picked My Birth Control”: The Influence of Religion on Contraceptive Use. J Relig Health, 53, 825¬–833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9678-1

Iveniuk, J., O'Muircheartaigh, C., & Cagney, K. A. (2016). Religious Influence on Older Americans' Sexual Lives: A Nationally-Representative Profile. Archives of sexual behavior, 45(1), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-015-0534-0

Johnson, M. C. (2018). “Ni la pareja, ni la familia, ni la Iglesia deciden por mí”: la experiencia del aborto en mujeres Católicas. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad (Rio de Janeiro), (28), 51–70. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-6487.sess.2018.28.04.a

Kørup, A. K., Thygesen, L. C., Christensen, R. D. P., Johansen, C., Søndergaard, J., & Hvidt, N. C. (2016) Association between sexually transmitted disease and church membership a retrospective cohort study of two Danish religious minorities. B M J Open, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010128

Lassiter, J. M., Saleh, L., Starks, T., Grov, C., Ventuneac, A., & Parsons, J. T. (2017). Race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and education are associated with gay and bisexual men’s religious and spiritual participation and beliefs: Results from the One Thousand Strong cohort. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 23(4), 468–476. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000143

LeJeune, B. C., Zimet, G. D., Azzouz, F., Fortenberry, J. D., & Aalsma, M. C. (2013). Religiosity and sexual involvement within adolescent romantic couples. Journal of religion and health, 52(3), 804–816. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9512-6

Lewczuk, K., Szmyd, J., Skorko, M., & Gola, M. (2017). Treatment seeking for problematic pornography use among women. Journal of behavioral addictions, 6(4), 445–456. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.063

Li, E., Freedman, L. R., Fernandez y Garcia, E., & Miller, E. (2016). Exploring the Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Addressing Adolescent Relationship Abuse. Violence Against Women, 22(5), 609–624. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801215608702

Lucea, M. B., Hindin, M. J., Gultiano, S., Kub, J., & Rose, L. (2013). The context of condom use among young adults in the Philippines: implications for HIV prevention. Health care for women international, 34(3-4), 227–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2012.721414

Lusey, H., San Sebastian, M., Christianson, M., Dahlgren, L., & Edin, K. E. (2014). Conflicting discourses of church youths on masculinity and sexuality in the context of HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, 11(1), 84–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/17290376.2014.930695

Lytle, M. C., De Luca, S. M., Blosnich, J. R., & Brownson, C. (2015). Associations of racial/ethnic identities and religious affiliation with suicidal ideation among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning individuals. Journal of affective disorders, 178, 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.039

Manzou, R., Schumacher, C., & Gregson, S. (2014). Temporal dynamics of religion as a determinant of HIV infection in East Zimbabwe: a serial cross-sectional analysis. PLOS ONE, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0086060

Meladze, P., & Brown, J. (2015). Religion, Sexuality, and Internalized Homonegativity: Confronting Cognitive Dissonance in the Abrahamic Religions. Journal of religion and health, 54(5), 1950–1962. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0018-5

Mendes, K. D. S., Silveira, R. C. C. P., & Galvão, C. M. (2008). Revisão integrativa: método de pesquisa para a incorporação de evidências na saúde e na enfermagem. Texto & Contexto - Enfermagem, 17(4), 758–764. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-07072008000400018

Munyaradzi Kenneth, D., Marvellous, M., Stanzia, M., & Memory DM. (2016) Praying until Death: Apostolicism, Delays and Maternal Mortality in Zimbabwe. PLOS ONE, 11(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160170

Murakami, R., & Campos, C. J. G. (2012). Religião e saúde mental: desafio de integrar a religiosidade ao cuidado com o paciente. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 65(2), 361–367. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-71672012000200024

Natividade, M., & Oliveira, L. de. (2013). As novas guerras sexuais: diferença, poder religioso e identidades LGBT no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Garamond.

Norder, W. A. J., Peters, R. P. H., Kok, M. O., Elsland, S. L. V., Struthers, H. E., Tutu, M. A., & Furth, A. M. V. (2015). The church and paediatric HIV care in rural South Africa: a qualitative study. AIDS Care, 27(11), 1404–1409. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2015.1114987

Olaore, I. B., & Olaore, A. Y. (2014). Is HIV/AIDS a consequence or divine judgment? Implications for faith-based social services. A Nigerian faith-based university's study. SAHARA J: journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance, 11(1), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/17290376.2014.910134

Osafo, J., Asampong, E., Langmagne, S., & Ahiedeke, C. (2014). Perceptions of parents on how religion influences adolescents' sexual behaviours in two Ghanaian communities: implications for HIV and AIDS prevention. Journal of religion and health, 53(4), 959–971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9689-y

Pedersen, W. (2014). Forbidden fruit? A longitudinal study of Christianity, sex, and marriage. Journal of sex research, 51(5), 542–550. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.753983

Pietkiewicz, I. J., & Kołodziejczyk-Skrzypek, M. (2016). Living in Sin? How Gay Catholics Manage Their Conflicting Sexual and Religious Identities. Archives of sexual behavior, 45(6), 1573–1585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0752-0

Pinho, C. M., Dâmaso, B. F. R., Gomes, E. T., Trajano, M. F. C., Andrade, M. S., & Valença, M. P. (2017). Religious and spiritual coping in people living with HIV/Aids. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 70(2), 392–399. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2015-0170

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group. (2009). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLOS Medicine, 6(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

Quinn, K., & Dickson-Gomez, J. (2016). Homonegativity, Religiosity, and the Intersecting Identities of Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS and behavior, 20(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-015-1200-1

Quinn, K., Dickson-Gomez, J., & Kelly, J. A. (2016). The role of the Black Church in the lives of young Black men who have sex with men. Culture, health & sexuality, 18(5), 524–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2015.1091509

Rios, L. F., Paiva, V., Maksud, I., Oliveira, C., Cruz, C. M. da S., Silva, C. G. da., Terto Junior, V., & Parker, R. (2008). Os cuidados com a "carne" na socialização sexual dos jovens. Psicologia em Estudo, 13(4), 673–682. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722008000400005

Sanabria, Mazo, J. P., Jiménez Sierra, J., Parra Blandón, K., & Tordecilla Casallas, M. A. (2016). Influencia de la religión en la toma de decisiones sobre sexualidad en estudiantes católicos practicantes. Diversitas, 12(2), 231–242. https://revistas.usantotomas.edu.co/index.php/diversitas/article/view/3246

Sanabria, G. V. (2016). Science, stigmatisation and afro-pessimism in the South African debate on AIDS. Vibrant: Virtual Brazilian Anthropology, 13(1), 22–51. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-43412016v13n1p022

Santos, A. R. M. dos., Silva, E. A. P. C. da., Silva, P. P. C. da., Cartaxo, H. G. de O., & Freitas, C. M. S. M. de. (2014). Estilo de vida na adolescência: o envolvimento religioso atuando nos comportamentos de risco à saúde. Pensar a Prática, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.5216/rpp.v17i1.18741

Saúde, O. M. (2001). Sexual Health. https://www.who.int/topics/sexual_health/en/

Shalev, O., Baum, N., & Itzhaki, H. (2013). "There's a man in my bed": the first experience of sex among Modern-Orthodox newlyweds in Israel. Journal of sex & marital therapy, 39(1), 40–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2012.675021

Silva, B. A. (2018). O discurso da inclusão: Uma análise argumentativa do discurso religioso de uma igreja inclusiva. Tabuleiro das letras, 12(1), 46–60. http://www.revistas.uneb.br/index.php/tabuleirodeletras/article/view/4454

Silva, C. G. da., Santos, A. O., Licciardi, D. C., & Paiva, V. (2008). Religiosidade, juventude e sexualidade: entre a autonomia e a rigidez. Psicologia em Estudo, 13(4), 683–692. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-73722008000400006

Silva, J. B., Simião, J.H., & Silva, M. R. (2017). Entre o mercado religioso e a fé inclusiva: igrejas LGBT como nicho de mercado. [Cátedra Unesco de Comunicação e Desenvolvimento, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo. XII Conferência Brasileira de Comunicação Eclesial, Campinas: PUC – Campinas], 1–16. https://portal.metodista.br/eclesiocom/2017/arquivos/JefersonBatistadaSILVA_JhonatasHenriqueSIMIO_MarianaRodriguesdaSILVA.pdf

Silva, L.V., & Barbosa, B. R. S. N. (2016). Sobrevivência no Armário: Dores do Silêncio LGBT em Uma Sociedade de Religiosidade Heteronormativa. Estudos de Religião, 30(3), 129–154. https://doi.org/10.15603/2176-1078/er.v30n3p129-154

Smallwood, S. W., Spencer, S. M., Ingram, L. A., Thrasher, J. F., & Thompson-Robinson, M. V. (2017). Examining the Relationships Between Religiosity, Spirituality, Internalized Homonegativity, and Condom Use Among African American Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Deep South. American journal of men's health, 11(2), 196–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988315590835

Souza, A. A. de. (2017). O Papel social das Igrejas Evangélicas nas comunidades locais brasileiras. O caso do Projeto Vida Plena na Cidade de Seropédica, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. [Dissertação de Mestrado, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas]. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/14950

Souza, M. T., Silva, M. D., & Carvalho, R. (2010). Revisão integrativa: o que é e como fazer. Einstein (São Paulo), 8(1), 102–106. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-45082010rw1134

Sowe, B. J., Brown, J., & Taylor, A. J. (2014). Sex and the sinner: comparing religious and nonreligious same-sex attracted adults on internalized homonegativity and distress. The American journal of orthopsychiatry, 84(5), 530–544. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000021

Sümer, Z. H. (2015). Gender, Religiosity, Sexual Activity, Sexual Knowledge, and Attitudes Toward Controversial Aspects of Sexuality. Journal of religion and health, 54(6), 2033–2044. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9831-5

Van Drie, A., Ganzevoort, R. R., & Spiering, M. (2014). Anonymous pastoral care for problems pertaining to sexuality. Journal of religion and health, 53(6), 1634–1652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9746-6

Williams, T. T., Dodd, D., Campbell, B., Pichon, L. C., & Griffith, D. M. (2014). Discussing adolescent sexual health in African-American churches. Journal of religion and health, 53(2), 339–351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9632-7

Winter, T., Karvonen, S., & Rose, R. J. (2014). Associations between sexual abstinence ideals, religiosity, and alcohol abstinence: a longitudinal study of Finnish twins. Journal of sex research, 51(2), 197–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.721098

Yasmine, R., El Salibi, N., El Kak, F., & Ghandour, L. (2015). Postponing sexual debut among university youth: how do men and women differ in their perceptions, values and non-penetrative sexual practices?. Culture, health & sexuality, 17(5), 555–575. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2014.972457

Zarzycka, B., Rybarski, R., & Sliwak, J. (2017). The Relationship of Religious Comfort and Struggle with Anxiety and Satisfaction with Life in Roman Catholic Polish Men: The Moderating Effect of Sexual Orientation. J Relig Health, 56, 2162–2179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0388-y

Published

19/02/2021

How to Cite

CORTES, H. M.; MORAIS, A. V. C. de; LACERDA, L. C. S. de; SANTOS, R. O.; PINHO, P. H. Sexuality and Religiosity: an integrative literature review . Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 2, p. e37910212540, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i2.12540. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/12540. Acesso em: 24 apr. 2024.

Issue

Section

Review Article