RELIGIOSITY AND SEXUAL RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG MIZO YOUNG ADULTS

Religiosity plays a role in preventing various risky behaviors. Although religiosity plays a huge role in Mizo society, it is important to identify how different dimensions of religiosity is related with sexual risk-taking behaviour. Therefore, the present study examined the relationship between religiosity dimensions (Intellectual, ideology, public practice, private practice, religious experience) and sexual risk-taking behaviour among Mizo young adults. A total of 100 samples was selected in the study with an age range of 18 to 40 years. The mean scores of the participants vary according to their social demographic characteristics. The relationship between religiosity dimensions and sexual risk-taking behaviour was calculated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). There is a significant negative relationship between religiosity (private practice) and sexual risk-taking behaviour (r = -.362**; p <.01). Multiple regression analysis also revealed that the overall model was significant. Predictors explained 15.6% of the variance in sexual risk-taking behavior (R² =.156, F (5, 94) = 3. 487, p < .01). However, only religiosity (private practice) significantly predicted sexual risk-taking behaviour (β = -.480, p <.01) and the other religiosity dimensions did not significantly predict sexual risk-taking behaviour. The study showed the potential role of religiosity private in protecting sexual risk-taking behaviour.