Youth Religiosity and Substance Use: A Meta-Analysis from 1995 to 2007

Abstract

In this meta-analysis, the magnitude of the protective effects of religiosity on youth involvement in substance use was investigated. Based on 22 studies in peer-reviewed journals published between 1995 and 2007, the average weighted mean correlation was Zr = .16, significant regardless of the definitions of religiosity. The homogeneity test of variance showed consistent protective effects of religiosity on four types of substance use, namely, alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and other illicit drugs.

Religiosity and Tobacco and Alcohol Use in a Brazilian Shantytown

“…These results are in line with many previous studies in which higher religious attendance was related to less use of licit and illicit drugs (Blay, Batista, Andreoli, & Gastal, 2008;Edlund et al, 2010;Koenig, George, Meador, Blazer, & Ford, 1994;Yeung et al, 2009).…”

“…Recently, a meta-analysis evaluated 22 studies from 1995 to 2007 and found that religiosity was consistently associated with less youth substance use, including alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and other illicit drugs (Yeung et al, 2009). This association was maintained in other groups such as adults (Koenig et al, 1994) and the elderly (Blay et al, 2008).…”

“…Nevertheless, many studies show the protective role 2 of religiosity/spirituality in this kind of behavior, in which higher organizational religiosity, nonorganizational religiosity, and some religious affiliations are associated with less use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs (Edlund et al, 2010;Michalak, Trocki, & Bond, 2007;Yeung, Chan, & Lee, 2009). Furthermore, addiction treatment groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous have developed in and out of faith-based settings and emphasize personal searching, prayer, meditation, and conscious contact with God (higher power as one understands it to be) (Steigerwald & Stone, 1999), considering spirituality as an important step in recovery.…”

Cigarette smoking among psychiatric patients in Brazil

“…A low level of education may be considered a marker for low access to knowledge and understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco 16 . Practicing a religion may act as a protective factor for substance use 44 since it represents a potential social safety net that establishes values, restrictions or impositions on certain behaviors 42,43 . On the other hand, increased social vulnerability and the high prevalence of co-occurring substance use among homeless people with mental health disorders place this population at a higher risk of smoking.…”

Dimensions of Religiosity and Access to Religious Social Capital: Correlates with Substance Use Among Urban Adolescents

“…Considering the multitude of potential negative consequences of adolescent substance use, researchers remain focused on identifying critical risk and protective factors (Harden, 2010). A growing body of research indicates that religiosity may be protective against substance use and abuse, particularly among adolescents (Catalano et al, 1992; Chitwood, Weiss, & Leukefeld, 2008; Dew et al, 2008; Francis, 1997; Miller, Davies, & Greenwald, 2000; Rew & Wong, 2006; Sinha, Cnaan, & Gelles, 2007; Wills, Yaeger, & Sandy, 2003; Yeung, Chan, & Lee, 2009). A review of over 750 studies clearly showed that individuals with high religiosity involvement were less likely to use substances and less likely to have experienced the consequences of substance use than those with low religiosity involvement (Johnson, Tomkins, & Webb, 2002).…”