Story perspectives

Religious Women Marry Before Cohabiting, Still Have Sex

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers Man Xu and Paula England found that frequent religious attendance or conservative affiliation raises the chance women marry before cohabiting or childbearing.
Among first-marrying women, 51% attended weekly services and 49% were in conservative denominations, versus 20% and 29% for first cohabiters.
Despite this, 82% of first-marrying women reported premarital sex, with over 90% of highly religious and 94% of conservative women doing likewise.

1 of 1

Story summary

Researchers Man Xu and Paula England found that frequent religious attendance or conservative affiliation raises the chance women marry before cohabiting or childbearing.
Among first-marrying women, 51% attended weekly services and 49% were in conservative denominations, versus 20% and 29% for first cohabiters.
Despite this, 82% of first-marrying women reported premarital sex, with over 90% of highly religious and 94% of conservative women doing likewise.