Religion still impacts Gen Z's sexual behavior
Gen Z is the least religious generation in the U.S. thus far. Among Gen Z students in my survey, only 45% were religious, and barely 38% were attending service regularly. However, because about two-thirds of students didn’t live at home or close to their congregation, they may have attended service less often than the average Gen Zer. There wasn’t much difference between female (46% religious) and male respondents (43% religious), although a higher proportion of females were regulars at church service (40% versus 34% for males). However, there was a steep drop in the percentage of religious respondents during and after COVID-19 from 45% in 2016-2020 to 40% in 2021-2022.
More than 95% of religious respondents provided information on their religious affiliation, with 98% being affiliated with a Christian religion and 2% with a non-Christian faith. Among the Christian respondents, 72% named Christian (40%) or Catholic/Roman Catholic (32%) as their religious denomination. Baptist (6%), non-denominational Evangelical (5%), Methodist (4%), and Lutheran (3%) were other denominations stated by more than 2% of respondents. Of the students affiliated with non-Christian religions, 1% were Jewish, 0.3% were Muslims or Buddhists, and 0.2% were Hindu.
Religion has been, and still is, one of the major forces of control over sexuality. The Judeo-Christian faiths practiced by many in the U.S. typically are against premarital sex, non-relationship sex (or casual sex), and cohabitation and emphasize remaining abstinent until marriage. Studies involving Generation X and millennials have found that religious behavior is a strong predictor of sexual behavior, with higher levels of devoutness correlated to a later age of first sexual experiences, fewer lifetime sex partners, and less engagement in casual sex.
Yet, religious attitudes do not guarantee sexual abstinence before marriage in all cases. The percentage of religious Gen Z students in my survey who admitted to having engaged in sexual activity – oral, vaginal, or anal sex – already was 70% compared to 76% for their non-religious peers. The percentage of religious students who had engaged in sexual activity during the past 30 days was also slightly lower at 55% compared with 59% for non-religious students. The average number of sex partners over the last twelve months, however, was the same for both groups, with 2.5 for religious and 2.6 for non-religious respondents.
Once they are with a new partner, religious Gen Z students tend to wait longer before engaging in sexual activity (4% have sex on the first date or when they meet someone for the first time, 11% during the first couple of weeks, and 20% between two weeks and one month) than non-religious students (8% have sex on the first date or when they meet someone for the first time, 20% during the first couple of weeks, and 24% between two weeks and one month). One-third of respondents from both groups were willing to wait up to three months (14%), three to six months (12%), or even longer (9%).
While only one in eight non-religious students (12%) didn’t have a set rule or expressed that their decision depended on who they met or what they were looking for in a relationship, almost one in three religious students (30%) fell into that group. More than 5% wanted to wait until marriage, 10% were not sexually active or virgins, and 7% expressed that it depended on the situation, the person they were with, and whether or not they saw a long-term future with that person. There were quite a few explanations that pointed to students not wanting to rush into things unnecessarily.
More than 95% of religious respondents provided information on their religious affiliation, with 98% being affiliated with a Christian religion and 2% with a non-Christian faith. Among the Christian respondents, 72% named Christian (40%) or Catholic/Roman Catholic (32%) as their religious denomination. Baptist (6%), non-denominational Evangelical (5%), Methodist (4%), and Lutheran (3%) were other denominations stated by more than 2% of respondents. Of the students affiliated with non-Christian religions, 1% were Jewish, 0.3% were Muslims or Buddhists, and 0.2% were Hindu.
Religion has been, and still is, one of the major forces of control over sexuality. The Judeo-Christian faiths practiced by many in the U.S. typically are against premarital sex, non-relationship sex (or casual sex), and cohabitation and emphasize remaining abstinent until marriage. Studies involving Generation X and millennials have found that religious behavior is a strong predictor of sexual behavior, with higher levels of devoutness correlated to a later age of first sexual experiences, fewer lifetime sex partners, and less engagement in casual sex.
Yet, religious attitudes do not guarantee sexual abstinence before marriage in all cases. The percentage of religious Gen Z students in my survey who admitted to having engaged in sexual activity – oral, vaginal, or anal sex – already was 70% compared to 76% for their non-religious peers. The percentage of religious students who had engaged in sexual activity during the past 30 days was also slightly lower at 55% compared with 59% for non-religious students. The average number of sex partners over the last twelve months, however, was the same for both groups, with 2.5 for religious and 2.6 for non-religious respondents.
Once they are with a new partner, religious Gen Z students tend to wait longer before engaging in sexual activity (4% have sex on the first date or when they meet someone for the first time, 11% during the first couple of weeks, and 20% between two weeks and one month) than non-religious students (8% have sex on the first date or when they meet someone for the first time, 20% during the first couple of weeks, and 24% between two weeks and one month). One-third of respondents from both groups were willing to wait up to three months (14%), three to six months (12%), or even longer (9%).
While only one in eight non-religious students (12%) didn’t have a set rule or expressed that their decision depended on who they met or what they were looking for in a relationship, almost one in three religious students (30%) fell into that group. More than 5% wanted to wait until marriage, 10% were not sexually active or virgins, and 7% expressed that it depended on the situation, the person they were with, and whether or not they saw a long-term future with that person. There were quite a few explanations that pointed to students not wanting to rush into things unnecessarily.
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“As long as it takes for both of us to be comfortable.” (religious female, 18, sophomore)
“Depends on if I know them or if they are new in my life.” (religious female, 18, freshman) “I do not have sex currently, I am saving myself for marriage.” (religious female, 18, freshman) “Lost my virginity to my current girlfriend, after about 3 months of dating but knowing each other for 2 years.” (religious male, 20, junior) “Never reached that point.” (religious female, 18, freshman) “One month...has to be real feelings.” (religious female, 19, sophomore) “Whenever it happens naturally.” (religious male, 19, sophomore) |
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A higher percentage of non-religious students reported having had casual sex or a one-night stand before, with 48% compared with 39% only of religious students. On the other hand, religious students were more likely to blame outside factors, especially being drunk, for their actions (38%) than non-religious students (30%). Still, most students accepted responsibility for their behavior and didn’t express any regrets.
“I was really drunk and decided that having sex was a good idea. I don't regret it because I had known the person for a long time but I would not have made that decision sober.” (religious female, 19, freshman)
“Alcohol influenced me, but I went into the situation knowing sex was an option.” (religious female, 19, sophomore)
“I would not have done it if I wasn’t drunk.” (religious female, 19, sophomore)
“I went home for break and slept with my best friend. It was terrible and we were drunk. I haven't talked to him since.” (religious female, 18, freshman)
“One of my classmates in high school asked if I wanted to drink with a bottle he got from a relative. I said, "Sure" Out of sexual curiosity and being tipsy and recently getting out of a long-term relationship, I figured I should “sexually liberate” myself and rebound with him. He wasn't intending to have sex, but I was in an extremely feminist phase of my life and thought it would be fulfilling to have casual sex.” (religious female, 19, freshman)
“Just drunk at a party.” (religious male, 19, sophomore)
Based on the data we’ve discussed so far, we can expect that there are differences in the percentages of religious and non-religious students who have had oral, vaginal, or anal sex already and are currently active. What may come as a surprise, however, is that the average age survey respondents engaged in any of these activities is the same for both groups. Students were 16 years of age when first having oral sex (16.4 years for religious and 16.2 years for non-religious students), 16 years of age at the time of first vaginal intercourse (16.6 years for religious and 16.5 years for non-religious students), and almost 18 years when having anal sex for the first time (17.8 years for religious and 17.7 years for non-religious students).
As far as oral sex is concerned, 82% of non-religious students had experience with it, compared with 76% of religious students. Non-religious students were also more active currently, with 55% having engaged in oral sex during the previous 30 days, while that share was 51% for religious students. On the other hand, religious students were twice as likely to use protection from STIs during oral sex (4% versus 2% for non-religious students).
The share of religious as well as non-religious Gen Zers who had experienced intercourse so far was lower than for oral sex for both groups, at 67% for religious and 76% for non-religious students. The percentage of students who had intercourse within 30 days of participating in the survey was just around 50% for both groups (46% for religious and 51% for non-religious students). There was a difference in the use of protection during vaginal sex, with religious respondents again being more likely to use protection against STI transmission (60% versus 52% for non-religious students). However, one in ten students from either group felt using birth control only was sufficient protection against STIs. A couple of students advocated the use of vaccines of some kind and the practice of non-conception sex, whatever that may be.
Unsurprisingly, anal sex wasn’t very popular with students in either group. Less than one-quarter (23%) of non-religious students and one-fifth (18%) of religious students had tried it at least once. Only one in ten non-religious (10%) and one in fourteen religious students (7%) had had anal intercourse during the past 30 days. Students’ comments indicated that trying it once had been more than enough for most of them. Religious students used protection during anal intercourse at a much higher rate (44%) than non-religious students (27%).
“I was really drunk and decided that having sex was a good idea. I don't regret it because I had known the person for a long time but I would not have made that decision sober.” (religious female, 19, freshman)
“Alcohol influenced me, but I went into the situation knowing sex was an option.” (religious female, 19, sophomore)
“I would not have done it if I wasn’t drunk.” (religious female, 19, sophomore)
“I went home for break and slept with my best friend. It was terrible and we were drunk. I haven't talked to him since.” (religious female, 18, freshman)
“One of my classmates in high school asked if I wanted to drink with a bottle he got from a relative. I said, "Sure" Out of sexual curiosity and being tipsy and recently getting out of a long-term relationship, I figured I should “sexually liberate” myself and rebound with him. He wasn't intending to have sex, but I was in an extremely feminist phase of my life and thought it would be fulfilling to have casual sex.” (religious female, 19, freshman)
“Just drunk at a party.” (religious male, 19, sophomore)
Based on the data we’ve discussed so far, we can expect that there are differences in the percentages of religious and non-religious students who have had oral, vaginal, or anal sex already and are currently active. What may come as a surprise, however, is that the average age survey respondents engaged in any of these activities is the same for both groups. Students were 16 years of age when first having oral sex (16.4 years for religious and 16.2 years for non-religious students), 16 years of age at the time of first vaginal intercourse (16.6 years for religious and 16.5 years for non-religious students), and almost 18 years when having anal sex for the first time (17.8 years for religious and 17.7 years for non-religious students).
As far as oral sex is concerned, 82% of non-religious students had experience with it, compared with 76% of religious students. Non-religious students were also more active currently, with 55% having engaged in oral sex during the previous 30 days, while that share was 51% for religious students. On the other hand, religious students were twice as likely to use protection from STIs during oral sex (4% versus 2% for non-religious students).
The share of religious as well as non-religious Gen Zers who had experienced intercourse so far was lower than for oral sex for both groups, at 67% for religious and 76% for non-religious students. The percentage of students who had intercourse within 30 days of participating in the survey was just around 50% for both groups (46% for religious and 51% for non-religious students). There was a difference in the use of protection during vaginal sex, with religious respondents again being more likely to use protection against STI transmission (60% versus 52% for non-religious students). However, one in ten students from either group felt using birth control only was sufficient protection against STIs. A couple of students advocated the use of vaccines of some kind and the practice of non-conception sex, whatever that may be.
Unsurprisingly, anal sex wasn’t very popular with students in either group. Less than one-quarter (23%) of non-religious students and one-fifth (18%) of religious students had tried it at least once. Only one in ten non-religious (10%) and one in fourteen religious students (7%) had had anal intercourse during the past 30 days. Students’ comments indicated that trying it once had been more than enough for most of them. Religious students used protection during anal intercourse at a much higher rate (44%) than non-religious students (27%).
