Top

Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Published in:

01-12-2010 | Original Article

Associations Between Religious Involvement and Behavioral Risk Factors for HIV/AIDS in American Women and Men in a National Health Survey

Authors: R. F. Gillum, MD, MS, Cheryl L. Holt, PhD

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 3/2010

Abstract

Background

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is a leading cause of death.

Purpose

We tested the hypothesis that religious variables would be inversely associated with prevalence of HIV/AIDS risk factors.

Methods

A 2002 national survey included 9,837 individuals aged 15–44 years with complete data on religious involvement, sexual, and drug use behaviors.

Results

Women who never attended services had over two times greater odds of reporting HIV risk factors than those attending weekly or more after adjusting for age and race/ethnicity (p < 0.0001) and over 60% greater after adjusting for multiple confounders, but no significant association was seen in men. Mainline Protestants had lower odds of reporting risk factors than those with no affiliation. No significant independent associations were found with importance of religion.

Conclusions

Women with public religious involvement had lower prevalence of any HIV risk factors while only affiliation was so associated in men.

Available only for authorised users

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Surveillance Report 2007. Vol 19. Atlanta. US DHHS, CDC; 2009.

Whiteside A. HIV/AIDS: a very short introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 2008.

Anderson JE, Mosher WD, Chandra A. Measuring HIV risk in the US population aged 15–44: results from Cycle 6 of the National Survey of Family Growth. Adv Data. 2006;377:1–27.PubMed

Koenig HG, McCullough ME, Larson DB. Handbook of religion and health. Oxford, UK. Oxford University Press; 2001.

Koenig HG. Medicine, religion and health: where science and spirituality meet. West Conshohocken, Pa. Templeton Foundation Press; 2008.

Ironson G, Solomon GF, Balbin EG, et al. The Ironson-Woods Spirituality/religiousness Index is associated with long survival, health behaviors, less distress, and low cortisol in people with HIV/AIDS. Ann Behav Med. 2002;24:34–48.CrossRefPubMed

Ironson G, Stuezle R, Fletcher MA. An increase in religiousness/spirituality occurs after HIV diagnosis and predicts slower disease progression over 4 years in people with HIV. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21(suppl 5):S62–S68.CrossRefPubMed

Szaflarski M, Ritchey N, Leonard AC, et al. Modeling the effects of spirituality/religion on patients’ perceptions of living with HIV/AIDS. J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21:528–538.CrossRef

Cotton S, Tsevat J, Szaflarski M, et al. Changes in religiousness and spirituality attributed to HIV/AIDS: are there sex and race differences? J Gen Intern Med. 2006;21:S14–20.CrossRefPubMed

10.

Pargament KI, McCarthy S, Shah P, et al. Religion and HIV: a review of the literature and clinical implications. Southern Med J. 2004;97:1201–1209.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Burdette AM, Ellison CG, Hill TD, Glenn ND. “Hooking up” at college: does religion make a difference? J Sci Stud Relig. 2009;48:535–551.CrossRef

12.

Lefkowitz ES, Gillen MM, Shearer CL, Boone TL. Religiosity, sexual behaviors, and sexual attitudes during emerging adulthood. J Sex Res. 2004;41:150–159.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Simons LG, Burt CH, Peterson FR. The effect of religion on risky sexual behavior among college students. Deviant Behav. 2009;30:467–485.CrossRef

14.

Rasberry CN, Goodson P. Predictors of secondary abstinence in US college undergraduates. Arch Sex Behav. 2009;38:74–86.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Baldwin JD, Baldwin JI. Factors affecting AIDS-related sexual risk-taking behavior among college students. J Sex Res. 1988;25:181–196.CrossRef

16.

Fierros-Gonzalez R, Brown JM. High risk behaviors in a sample of Mexican–American college students. Psychol Rep. 2002;90:117–130.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Jemmott LS, Jemmott JB 3rd, Villarruel AM. Predicting intentions and condom use among Latino college students. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2002;13:59–69.CrossRefPubMed

18.

Klein H, Elifson KW, Sterk CE. Depression and HIV risk behavior practices among at risk women. Women Health. 2008;48:167–188.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Sterk CE, Klein H, Elifson KW. Predictors of condom-related attitudes among at-risk women. J Wom Health. 2004;13:676–688.CrossRef

20.

Sterk CE, Klein H, Elifson KW. Self-esteem and “at risk” women: Determinants and relevance to sexual and HIV-related risk behaviors. Wom Health. 2004;40:75–92.CrossRef

21.

Corneille MA, Tademy RH, Reid MC, Belgrave FZ, Nasim A. Sexual safety and risk taking among African American men who have sex with women: A qualitative study. Psychol Men Mascul. 2008;9:207–220.CrossRef

22.

Wyatt GE, Carmona JV, Loeb TB, Guthrie D, Chin D, Gordon G. Factors affecting HIV contraceptive decision-making among women. Sex Roles. 2000;42:495–521.CrossRef

23.

Wayment HA, Wyatt GE, Tucker M, et al. Predictors of risky and precautionary behaviors among single and married white women. J Appl Soc Psychol. 2003;33:791–816.CrossRef

24.

Burdette AM, Hill TD. Religious involvement and transitions into adolescent sexual activities. Sociol Relig. 2009;70:28–48.CrossRef

25.

Manlove JS, Terry-Humen E, Ikramullah EN, Moore KA. The role of parent religiosity in teens’ transitions to sex and contraception. J Adolesc Health. 2006;39:578–587.CrossRefPubMed

26.

Manlove JS, Ryan S, Franzetta K. Risk and protective factors associated with a transition to a first sexual relationship with an older partner. J Adolesc Health. 2007;40:135–143.CrossRefPubMed

27.

Regnerus MD. Forbidden fruit: sex and religion in the lives of American teenagers. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2007.

28.

McCree DH, Wingood GM, DiClemente R, Davies S, Harrington KF. Religiosity and risky sexual behavior in African–American adolescent females. J Adolesc Health. 2003;33:2–8.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Avants SK, Marcotte D, Arnold R, Margolin A. Spiritual beliefs, world assumptions, and HIV risk behavior among heroin and cocaine users. Psychol Addict Behav. 2003;17:159–162.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Hasnain M, Sinacore JM, Mensah EK, Levy JA. Influence of religiosity on HIV risk behaviors in active injection drug users. AIDS Care. 2005;17:892–901.PubMed

31.

Groves RM, Benson G, Mosher WD, et al. Plan and operation of Cycle 6 of the National Survey of Family Growth. Vital Health Stat. 2005;1:1–86.

32.

Chandra A, Martinez GM, Mosher WD, Abma JC, Jones J. Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of US women: data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Vital Health Stat. 2005;23: 1–160.

33.

Anderson JE, Chandra A, Mosher WD. HIV testing in the US. Adv Data. 2005;363:1–32.PubMed

34.

SUDAAN Manual, Release 9.0. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute; 2004.

35.

Levin JS, Taylor RJ. Gender and age differences in religiosity among black Americans. Gerontologist. 1993;33:16–23.PubMed

36.

Levin JS, Taylor RJ, Chatters LM. Race and gender differences in religiosity among older adults: findings from four national surveys. J Gerontology. 1994;4:S137–S145.

37.

McCullough ME, Friedman HS, Enders CK, Martin LR. Does devoutness delay death? Psychological investment in religion and its association with longevity in the Terman sample. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009;97:866–882.CrossRefPubMed

38.

Maselko J, Kubzansky L, Kawachi I, Seeman T, Berkman L. Religious service attendance and allostatic load among high-functioning elderly. Psychosom Med. 2007;69:464–472.CrossRefPubMed

39.

McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen CE. Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. Health Psychol. 2000;19:211–222.CrossRefPubMed

40.

McCullough ME, Laurenceau JP. Religiousness and the trajectory of self-rated health across adulthood. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2005;31:560–573.CrossRefPubMed

41.

Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ, Cohen RD, Kaplan GA. Religious attendance increases survival by improving and maintaining good health behaviors, mental health, and social relationships. Ann Behav Med. 2001;23:68–74.CrossRefPubMed

42.

Steensland B, Park JZ, Regnerus MD, Robinson LD, Wilcox WB. Woodberry RD. The measure of American religion: toward improving the state of the art. 2000;79:291–319.

43.

Powell LH, Shahabi L, Thoresen CE. Religion and spirituality: linkages to physical health. Amer Psychol. 2003;58:36–52.CrossRef

Title: Associations Between Religious Involvement and Behavioral Risk Factors for HIV/AIDS in American Women and Men in a National Health Survey
Authors: R. F. Gillum, MD, MS
Cheryl L. Holt, PhD
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 3/2010
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9218-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Associations Between Religious Involvement and Behavioral Risk Factors for HIV/AIDS in American Women and Men in a National Health Survey

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2010

The Efficacy of Auditory Perceptual Training for Tinnitus: A Systematic Review

Television Viewing Time and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults: The AusDiab Study

Integrated Smoking Cessation and Binge Drinking Intervention for Young Adults: a Pilot Investigation

Review and Meta-analysis of Couple-Oriented Interventions for Chronic Illness

Effects of the PREMIER Interventions on Health-Related Quality of Life

Intentions to Quit Smoking: Causal Attribution, Perceived Illness Severity, and Event-Related Fear During an Acute Health Event