The Influence of Pornography Consumption, Religiosity, and Family Sexual Communication on Emerging Adults' Engagement in Hookup Culture in the United States

THE INFLUENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION, RELIGIOSITY, AND FAMILY SEXUAL COMMUNICATION ON EMERGING ADULTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN HOOKUP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES by Angie Powels Horner Chair: Elvin Gabriel ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHOF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University College of Education and International Services Title: THE INFLUENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION, RELIGIOSITY, AND FAMILY SEXUAL COMMUNICATION ON EMERGING ADULTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN HOOKUP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES Name of researcher: Angie Powels Horner Name and degree of faculty chair: Elvin Gabriel, Ph.D. Date completed: August 2019 Purpose The primary purpose of the current research was to understand the influence of considerable social-cultural factors, including pornography consumption, religiosity, and family sexual communication, on the sexual values and behaviors of the emerging adult population. Particularly, how pornography consumption, religiosity, and family sexual communication influence emerging adult engagement in hookup culture was examined. Method Participants completed several surveys, which measured participants’ pornography consumption, personal religiosity, family sexual communication, and engagement in hookup culture. A path analysis model was used to analyze the relationship between the proposed variables. Results The path analysis model indicated that the initial model was a poor fit for the data. The model, therefore, was revised based on the modification indices. The revised model was found to be a good fit to the data. The revised model indicated that family sexual communication and pornography consumption had positive, direct effects on hookup engagement. The model also showed that religiosity had a negative, direct effect on hookup engagement, while family sexual communication had a positive correlation with pornography consumption and a direct effect on religiosity. Altogether, the model accounted for 6% of the variance in hookup engagement and 5% of the variance in religiosity. Conclusion The present study contributed to the body of literature by providing a degree of understanding into the sexual behaviors of the emerging adult population, specifically college students. The results of the study indicated that parental sexual communication serves as an important factor in the development of sexual behaviors, attitudes, and selfconception. Hookup culture is a pervasive phenomenon with numerous contributing factors that present potential risks to emerging adult populations. Mental health professionals must take the knowledge gained from the present research and assist parents, educators, and other helping professionals in becoming competent sexual communicators, as well as to assist clients in making safe, sexually healthy decisions. Andrews University College of Education and International Services THE INFLUENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION, RELIGIOSITY, AND FAMILY SEXUAL COMMUNICATION ON EMERGING ADULTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN HOOKUP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Angie Powels Horner August 2019 ©Copyright Angie Powels Horner 2019 All Rights Reserved THE INFLUENCE OF PORNOGRAPHY CONSUMPTION, RELIGIOSITY, AND FAMILY SEXUAL COMMUNICATION ON EMERGING ADULTS’ ENGAGEMENT IN HOOKUP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Angie Powels Horner APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: __________________________________ ______________________________ Chair: Elvin Gabriel Dean, College of Education and International Services: Alayne Thorpe __________________________________ Member: Jimmy Kijai __________________________________ Member: Carole Woolford-Hunt __________________________________ ______________________________ External: Lionel Williams Date approved