Secular Volunteerism among Texan Emerging Adults: Exploring Pathways of Childhood and Adulthood Religiosity

Abstract

Prior research suggests that religiosity, especially public religious participation, is related to greater volunteerism. However, less is known about religious transmission across the life course, in particular whether and how religiosity in childhood is linked to later life volunteerism. This study investigates a sample of emerging adults in South Texas (n = 701) with a high percent of Hispanic Americans (53 percent). Specifically, we examine pathways of childhood and emerging adulthood religiosity leading to secular volunteerism. Findings indicate that both childhood and emerging adulthood religiosity are associated with greater volunteerism, but the effects of childhood religiosity on emerging adulthood volunteerism are mediated through emerging adulthood religiosity. These findings provide further confirmation of the importance of childhood religiosity only insofar as religiousness persists into adulthood. In other words, we find that it is emerging adulthood religiosity that transmits childhood religiosity into greater secular volunteerism in later life. Furthermore, emerging adulthood public religiosity has the most robust direct effects on volunteerism.

Determinants of participation in voluntary work: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies

“…Our search was conducted in August 2015 and several relevant articles have been published afterwards [ 42 – 46 ]. The results of this articles are in line with the results included in this systematic review and meta-analysis, showing for example that individuals in worse mental health are less likely to participate in voluntary work [ 42 ], religiosity in adulthood is positively associated to volunteering [ 43 ], and that previous volunteer experiences, good health and higher education are positively associated to volunteering [ 44 ]. Moreover, two studies investigated the association between providing care to grandchildren and volunteering [ 45 , 46 ] but with opposite results.…”

Childhood Significant Experiences that Contribute to Christian Commitment in Young Adulthood

“…This study sought to understand the perceived childhood experiences that contribute to Christian commitment in young adulthood. Overall, this research endeavor upheld a number of findings from prior research efforts, i.e., care-giver attachment (Tenelshof & Furrow, 2000; Granqvist & Kirkpatrick, 2004; DeRoos, 2006); involvement with a Christian community (Martin, White, & Perlman, 2003; Allen, 2002); interactions with generations of family, family dynamics, difficult or traumatic experience (King et al, 2008; Deprez, 2017); being raised in a Christian environment (Wuthnow, 1999; DeAngelis, Acevedo, & Xiaohe, 2016); Christian conversion prior to 13 years of age (May, 1993; Sanders, 2013); and religious education in the home (Bader, 2006; Abel, 2011; Magruder, 2017). However, new findings, as well as findings that expanded on prior literature, were also noted (i.e., personal engagement with Christianity, loving actions from Christians, and negative childhood experiences as a contributor to Christian commitment in young adulthood, church attendance as positive, and a close relationship with committed Christians).…”

Civic Lessons That Last? Religiosity and Volunteering on the Way to Adulthood

“…Several studies offer evidence supporting this scenario. DeAngelis, Acevedo, and Xu (2016) show that the effect of childhood religiosity—measured using retrospective self-reports—is entirely mediated by current religiosity in a sample of Texas college students. Similarly, Hill and Dulk (2013) analyze NSYR data and find that religious service attendance in wave 1 is not related to volunteering in wave 3 after controlling for attendance in wave 3, although frequent scripture reading in wave 1 is.…”