The transmission model of religious socialization was tested using a sample of American Jewish parents and adolescents. The authors expected that measures of religiousness among parents would be associated with those among their children. Interaction effects of denominational membership were also tested. Data were collected from a sample of 233 parent-child pairs in 9 Jewish schools in the Midwestern United States. Findings revealed modest support for the transmission model among American Jewish youth and parents. Parents' religious practices were positively linked to the salience of religion among youth as well as with youth's religious practices. No other correlations emerged between parents' and youth's behaviors. No interactions with denominational membership were found; however, parents' membership in the Orthodox denomination was positively correlated with the salience of religion among youth. These findings suggest that context plays an important role in the religious socialization of Jewish youth. Broader implications for these findings are discussed.
Religious heterogamy is present when partners differ on any religious facet, including denomination, belief, practice, or commitment. Belonging to a specific religious faith, the relative importance of religiosity, and the extent to which spouses engage in religious activities influence many couple relationships. Religion tends to have a positive influence on couple relationships. The religious makeup of a couple – whether couples share or differ in their religious backgrounds and beliefs – is influential in couple outcomes. However, since the 1990s the importance of religion and the influence of religion on couple relationships have declined.
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