Religiosity in adolescence and young adulthood: implications for identity formation

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology of Religion

Background:

• Previous research (Gladding et al., 1981) indicated correlations between religiosity and character traits associated with life meaning and purpose.
• Understanding the developmental aspects of religiosity is crucial for comprehending identity formation in young people.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential significant differences in religiosity scores based on age groups.
• To examine the influence of religious group affiliation and gender on religiosity.
• To explore the relationship between religiosity and identity formation during adolescence.

Main Methods:

• A 3x3x2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed.
• The study included 147 participants (70 males, 77 females), comprising adolescents and young adults from fundamental, moderate, and liberal churches.
• Participants were predominantly Caucasian and from Central and Northwest Arkansas.

Main Results:

• Significant main effects were observed for age group and religious group on religiosity scores.
• No significant main effect was found for gender.
• No significant interaction effects between the variables were detected.

Conclusions:

• Religiosity scores differ significantly across age groups and religious affiliations.
• Findings support the hypothesis that age-related factors, particularly during adolescence, are linked to religiosity and identity development.
• Future research could explore the nuances of these relationships in diverse populations.