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The Protective Role of Religious Coping in Adolescents’ Responses to Poverty and Sexual Decision‐Making in Rural Kenya
Author(s) -
Puffer Eve S.,
Watt Melissa H.,
Sikkema Kathleen J.,
OgwangOdhiambo Rose A.,
Broverman Sherryl A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-7795.2011.00760.x
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , psychology , stressor , poverty , psychological intervention , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , clinical psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medicine , economic growth , virology , economics
In this study, we explored how adolescents in rural Kenya apply religious coping in sexual decision‐making in the context of high rates of poverty and human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ). Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 34 adolescents. One‐third (13) reported religious coping related to economic stress, HIV , or sexual decision‐making; the majority (29) reported religious coping with these or other stressors. Adolescents reported praying to God to partner with them to engage in positive behaviors, praying for strength to resist unwanted behaviors, and passive strategies characterized by waiting for God to provide resources or protection from HIV . Adolescents in sub‐ S aharan A frica may benefit from HIV prevention interventions that integrate and build upon their use of religious coping.