INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND RELIGIOSITY ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

This study determined the influence of social connectedness and religiosity on the sexual behavior of college students. Using simple random sampling, 250 students aged 17-24 years old (84%), single, male (54%), and with various religious affiliations responded to the survey questionnaire.  The results of the study revealed that the students have good familial connectedness and with a fair level of connectedness with peers. The religiosity of the of the college students was also fair. The sexual behavior of the respondents was good since they rarely involved themselves  in solo sex, committed sex, and casual sex. The respondents were never involved in commercial sex. The findings reveal that the closer the respondents to their families, the less likely they engage in sexual behavior; the more the respondents bond with their peers, the more likely they engage in sexual behavior; and the more the respondents are active in church, the less likely they engage in sexual behavior. Further, there were differences in the sexual behavior of the respondents when gender, age, religion, and family structure were considered. Implications for future research are discussed