Religion and Parent Employment Relevant to Youth Sexual Health Study

Survey questions for a national youth sexual health study proposed for students in the Sooke school district that ask about a student's religion and the employment status of his or her parents are both relevant and useful to researchers, says UVic psychology professor Dr. Nancy Galambos, who has worked on studies like this one. "Questions like these can provide insight into what puts adolescents at risk sexually. They also help researchers determine if certain social factors contribute to or influence risk behavior, which enables researchers to target those most likely to engage in high-risk sexual activities," says Galambos. "Finding out about a parent's employment gives demographic background, which sometimes may be related to high risk behavior." She says religion is a key issue to study because youth involvement in some religions may reduce the incidence of high-risk sexual behavior.

-- 30 --