NCJ Number
42073
Journal
Social Forces Volume: 55 Issue: 4 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 952-958
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS REPORT THE RESULTS OF A STUDY WHICH EXPLORED THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND DELINQUENCY, IN WHICH IT WAS FOUND THAT FREQUENCY OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE WAS NEGATIVELY CORRELATED WITH DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS.
Abstract
AN EARLIER STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT DELINQUENCY AND RELIGIOSITY ARE UNRELATED, BUT THE AUTHORS STATE THAT RESULTS OF THIS STUDY, WHICH WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, MAY NOT BE GENERALIZABLE TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THE PRESENT STUDY USED SELF-REPORTED DATA FROM 1,383 ATLANTA TENTH GRADERS IN 1970, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A MODERATE NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE DATA ALSO SUGGEST A CAUSAL STRUCTURE IN WHICH RESPECT FOR THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM LINKS CHURCH ATTENDANCE WITH DELINQUENCY. THE AUTHORS PROPOSE THAT CHURCH ATTENDANCE MAY BE A TRUER REFLECTION OF ADOLESCENTS' RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE SOUTH THAN IN THE WEST, WHICH COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY AND THOSE OF PREVIOUS STUDIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...DMC