Religious Involvement and Developmental Resources in Youth

Children as Mystics, Activists, Sages, and Holy Fools: Understanding the Spirituality of Children and Its Significance for Clinical Work

“…The first of these is no doubt quite familiar: Religious and spiritual participation by children and youth promotes resiliency in the face of various difficulties, and in particular relates positively to a child or adolescents' ability to cope adaptively with illness (Hackney & Sanders, 2003;Resnick, Harris, & Blum, 1993;Resnick et al, 1997;Wallace & Forman, 1998;Miller & Gur, 2002;Wegener, Furrow, Ebstyne King, Leffert, & Benson, 2003).…”

“…For instance, adolescent religious involvement appears positively associated with measures of physical health such as exercise, healthy diet, good sleep habits, and a lower rate of engaging in high-risk behaviors. (Garmezy, 1991;Jessor, 1991;Wallace & Forman, 1998;Pendleton et al, 2002;Wegener et al, 2003) Spiritual or religious involvement also comprises a protective factor in relation to depression among adolescent girls. (Miller & Gur, 2002).…”

Religiosity and Music Copyright Theft Among Canadian Baptist Youth

“…(Jamieson, 2006, p.105) A long tradition of empirical research has demonstrated the connection between religious beliefs and practices and the attitudes of young people toward a host of moral and ethical issues. Generally, religiously committed young people have been found to hold more conservative views and practices in such fields as illicit drug use (Maddox, 1970;Globetti & Brigance, 1971;Braucht, Brakarsh, Follingstad, & Berry, 1973, Rohrbaugh & Jessor, 1975Hadaway, Elifson, & Peterson, 1984;Hundleby, 1987;Francis & Mullen, 1993;Mullen & Francis, 1995;Cook, Goddard, & Westall, 1997;Hope & Cook, 2001;Francis, 2002;Nonnemaker, McNeely, & Blum, 2003;Wagener, Furrow, King, Leffert, & Benson, 2003;Mellor & Freeborn, 2011;Sanchez, Opaleye, Chaves, Noto, & Nappo, 2011), the use of alcohol (Schlegel & Sanborn, 1979;Nelson & Rooney, 1982;Hadaway, Elifson, & Peterson, 1984;Perkins, 1985Perkins, , 1987Bechtel & Swisher, 1992;Cochran, 1993;Brown, Parks, Zimmerman, & Phillips, 2001;Fawcett & Linkletter, 2007;Brechting, Brown, Salsman, Sauer, & Holeman, 2010;Lambert, Fincham, Marks, & Stillman, 2010), sexual permissiveness (Lindenfeld, 1960;Reiss, 1967;Heltsley & Broderick, 1969;Bell & Chaskes, 1970;Sherkat & Ellison, 1997;Cochran, Chamlin, Beeghley, & Fenwick, 2004;MurraySwank, Pargament, & Mahone...…”

Religion and Youth

“…Religion may provide a variety of developmental assets that lead to these positive associations, such as social support from family, friends, and nonrelative adults; empowerment; clear boundaries and expectations; having constructive uses of time; commitment to learning; positive values; social competencies; and positive identity, which likely mediate the influence of religion (Benson et al, 1997;Benson et al, 2012;Roehlkepartain, 1998;Scales et al, 2003;Smith, 2003;Wagener et al, 2003).…”