Just Another Club?: The Distinctiveness of the Relation Between Religious Service Attendance and Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment

• NCJ Number: 228437
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 38 Issue: 9 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 1153-1171
• Author(s): Marie Good; Teena Willoughby; Jan Fritjers
• Date Published: October 2009
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This Canadian study examined the effects on adolescent psychosocial adjustment of the frequency of participation in religious services compared with participation in youth clubs.

Abstract

The study found that attendance at religious services during teen years was uniquely associated with less risk-taking at all time points, but was also associated with less positive parental relationships and intrapersonal well-being in grades 11 and 12. Sustained religious service attendance was associated with significantly lower substance use and higher academic marks. Sustained club involvement predicted positive intrapersonal well-being, high academic marks, good friendship quality, and less substance use. Religious groups generally discourage risky behaviors such as substance use and positive achievement such as school success. On the other hand, sustained religious attendance into the adolescent years may be due to high levels of parental monitoring and/or control that impedes personal autonomy. The seeking of religious guidance and comfort may also indicate an effort to cope with problematic psychosocial adjustment, such as a parental divorce. The distinctive overall positive psychosocial adjustment among high schoolers with sustained participation in clubs may represent the development of personal autonomy reflected in a self-selected activity or the pursuit of a positive personal interest. Study participants included 1,050 students (47 percent girls) in a school district in Canada. They completed the survey first in ninth grade and again in grades 11 and 12. The survey measured the frequency of religious service attendance, club involvement, and various indicators of psychosocial adjustment. The latter indicators addressed intrapersonal well-being, substance use, academic success, and quality of relationships with parents and friends. The study used hierarchical linear modeling to compare longitudinal patterns of adolescent religious service attendance and club attendance, as well as to contrast the longitudinal links between adolescent adjustment and religious services compared with club attendance. 3 tables, 2 figures, and 79 references