Ruth Institute Blog

by Pat Fagan of the Family Research Council

Women in always-intact marriages who worship at least weekly are more likely to have had fewer lifetime sexual partners than those in other family structures who never worship. According to the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), women in always-intact marriages who attend religious services at least weekly have had, on average, 2.42 lifetime sexual partners, followed by women in always-intact marriages who never worship (4.71), those in other family structures who worship at least weekly (5.51), and those in other family structures who never worship (9.07).

Examining present family structure only, women in intact cohabiting relationships have had, on average, 2.33 lifetime sexual partners, followed by women in always-intact marriages (3.23), those in cohabiting stepfamilies (6.34), those in married stepfamilies (6.98), those who have always been single (7.44), and those who are divorced (8.18).

Examining religious attendance only, people who worship at least weekly have had, on average, 4.33 lifetime sexual partners, followed by those who worship between one and three times a month (6.25), those who attend religious services less than once a month (7.56), and those who never attend religious services (8.84).

Find the complete study with insightful charts here.