Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion

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This finding looks at the relationship between religious commitment and juvenile delinquency.

The effect of adolescent religiosity (as measured by religious services attendance, individual importance placed on religion, weekend time spent participating in community-oriented religious activities, and the importance placed on such involvement) on delinquency was consistently and directly negative, even when controlling for socio-demographic factors (e.g., race and household income) and intervention factors (e.g., beliefs and delinquent association). Religious involvement impacted teens’ attitude toward delinquent acts and association with delinquent peers, factors linked to delinquent behavior.

Sample or Data Description
Data came from the National Youth Survey on 1,725 young men and women aged 11 to 17 in 1977.

Source
"Does Adolescent Religious Commitment Matter? A Reexamination of the Effects of Religiosity on Delinquency"
Johnson, Bryon R.
Jang, Sung Joon, Larson, David B.; and De Li, Spencer
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Vol. 38, Number 1. February, 2001. Page(s) 22-43.

FindingID: 3355