Cybersex: The protective and deleterious effects of spirituality and religiosity

Objective: Research suggests religiosity is a protective factor for a wide variety of risk behaviors. Emerging research also suggests that sexually explicit materials (i.e., cybersex) use is related to high-risk health-related perceptions and behaviors. This study examines the association between spirituality and religiosity and attitudes about cybersex.

Methods: Responses were anonymously obtained via a self-administered Internet questionnaire from an adult random sample (males, n = 296; females, n = 314) in the Seattle-Tacoma DMA. Respondents reported their use of and the perceived importance of using “sexually explicit content including images, videos, and/or chat rooms.” They also completed the Duke Religion Index and the Fetzer Religiousness/Spirituality inventory, which, following factor analysis, yielded three religiosity/spirituality (R/S) indices – Personal Devoutness (PD), Supportive Congregation (SC), and Demanding Congregation (DC).

Results: Cybersex content use was reported by ~60% of male (n = 177) and ~16% of the female (n = 50) respondents. Among these respondents, cybersex content was perceived as moderately important (M = 3.65, SD = 2.54) with men and women responding similarly [t(225) = -0.55, p > .05]. Correlations between the cybersex and R/S measures revealed a significant protective effect for the Personal Devoutness index (r = -.16, p < .02) and a deleterious effect for the Demanding Congregation index (r = .13, p < .05). This pattern was strongest among male respondents but diminished substantially among females.

Conclusions: The data suggest some aspects of faith and the faith-based community may act as protective or risk factors for cybersex use.