The Influence of Religiosity on the Emotional-Behavioral Health of Adolescents

J Relig Health. 2020 Aug;59(4):1870-1888. doi: 10.1007/s10943-018-00747-w.

Abstract

Religion is a multidimensional structure. Former studies examined only one or a few dimensions of the religion and the study that has looked comprehensively to the topic was not found. Considering this feature, the impact of religion on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents should be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of religiosity on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. Data were collected using religiosity, trauma resilience scale, emotional abuse, and Achenbach's Youth Self Report questionnaires in a 511-person sample of adolescents (318 girls and 193 boys). The results showed that various dimensions of religiosity are positively correlated with emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. A positive correlation was found between individual and familial factors with emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. Religiosity directly affects the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents. It also indirectly affects the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents through familial and individual factors. These findings show the important role of individual and familial factors in the impact of religiosity on the emotional-behavioral health of adolescents.

Keywords: Emotional–behavioral health; Family support; Problem-solving; Religiosity; Self-regulation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior* / psychology
  • Emotions*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health*
  • Religion*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires