Emerging Adults’ Views of Marriage: Influence of Religion and Sexual History

Historically, religion has had a significant influence on mating strategies. As current trends show a shift away from social institutions as the guiding constructs for value formation, the role of religiosity as a moderator for perceptions of marriage, premarital sexual activity, and cohabitation outside of marriage needs to be revisited. The current study examines the association of religiosity, as assessed with the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL), and attitudes toward marriage, the perceived ideal age to marry, and sexual activity. All three dimensions of the DUREL (Organized Religious Activity, Non-Organized (Informal) Religious Activity, and Intrinsic Spirituality) were associated with more positive attitudes toward marriage. Participation in organized religious activity was associated with a later age for beginning sexual activity and fewer sexual partners.