The Role of Sexual Conservatism Exposure in Body Image and Sexual Outcomes

Sexual conservatism, a traditional sexual ethic that promotes sexual abstinence before marriage, is a common religious belief that has been studied in relation to body image and sexuality. Preliminary findings are inconclusive on the effects of sexual conservatism exposure (SCE) on body image and sexuality, indicating a need for further research. Few studies have examined the influence of SCE on body image and sexual outcomes and even fewer have explored implications for different gender groups. The present study investigated the relationship between SCE and four sexual and body image outcomes: body appreciation, self-objectification, sex guilt, and sexual self-esteem using path analysis. Additionally, I examined gender group differences using multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that increased SCE was significantly related to increased self-objectification and decreased body appreciation and sexual self-esteem. Further, although no significant difference emerged between gender group models, differences in individual pathways did emerge. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.