Religiosity and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: How Past and Present Religiosity Affect the Odds of Having a Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Jackson, Rachel S. Religiosity and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: How Past and Present Religiosity Affect the Odds of Having a Sexually Transmitted Disease among Young Adults. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 2008, 73 pp., 7 tables, 2 figures, bibliography, 57 titles. The purpose of this study was to determine if and how religiosity among American adolescents affects their odds of developing an STD by young adulthood. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the odds of developing an STD were calculated based on past religiosity (religiosity score at Wave I), present religiosity (religiosity score at Wave III), and continued religiosity (religiosity score at Wave III adjusted for Wave I religiosity score). It was determined that religiosity, both past and present, impact the odds of developing an STD, but that the direction and magnitude of this relationship varies by race and religion.