Qualitative Study of Southern Baptist Mothers' and Their Daughters' Attitudes Toward Sexuality

• NCJ Number: 221021
• Journal: Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 31-54
• Author(s): Margaret E. Matyastik Baier; Karen S. Wampler
• Date Published: January 2008
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this study was to develop a theory explaining the role of religiosity and/or spirituality in the development of adolescent attitudes toward sexuality.

Abstract

In examining the effect of spirituality on adolescent girls’ sexual attitudes and how mothers may or may not convey their own beliefs about these, it seems that spirituality, in addition to the parent-child relationship, is an important aspect of these girls’ lives. However, these girls were not able to articulate how spirituality functioned to shape their attitudes and beliefs about sexuality. Additional research should look beyond the homogeneous sample represented in this study and address how the parent-child relationship is instrumental in developing spirituality and influencing adolescent attitudes and guiding adolescent behavior. A qualitative study of 14 Southern Baptist mother-daughter dyads was used to discover the processes by which mothers share sensitive information and personal values with their daughters, as well as the extent to which daughters receive and internalize the messages mothers believe they are giving. References