A new report from Child Trends seems to show that weekly church attendance is a significant ‘protective factor’ for young adults aged 18-29. People in this age group who reported attending a religious service every week were substantially less likely to be involved in criminal activity, substance abuse, or to suffer from financial hardship.
The study, Transitioning to Adulthood: The Role of Supportive Relationships and Regular Religious Involvement, followed over 11,500 adolescents for 13 years through various stages of development, or “Waves”. They identified the following as “protective factors” for healthy development by the time a person reached “Wave III” (age 18 to 26).
• Weekly Religious Involvement. Young adults who reported attending a religious service or youth group once a week as adolescents had 64% higher odds of belonging to the lower risk (minimal problems group) at Wave III than belonging to either of the higher risk (moderate or multiple problems) groups.
• Caring Teachers. Young adults who reported their teachers cared about them “quite a bit” or “very much” as adolescents had 59% higher odds of belonging to the lower risk (minimal problems) group at Wave III than belonging to either of the higher risk (moderate or multiple problems) groups.
• Close and Caring Parent. Young adults who reported a close and caring relationship with at least one parent as adolescents had 29% higher odds of belonging to the minimal problems group at Wave III than belonging to either of the higher risk (moderate or multiple problem) groups.
Interestingly, adolescents that perceived that their friends cared about them “very much” had 27% lower odds of belonging to the low-risk group than either of the high risk ones. Make of that what you will.
The study’s findings, which can be read here, are fairly brief and well worth reading. People (hopefully) don’t attend religious services because of the social benefits they bring – but for policymakers, the positive impact involvement with religion can have shouldn’t be underestimated. As the report puts it:
Given these findings, providing opportunities for adolescents to spend quality time with their parents and maintain regular involvement in a religious or other supportive community may help youth abstain from negative behaviors as young adults (or overcome them) and engage constructively in the domains of civic life, work, school, and household, regardless of personal or structural challenges they have experienced earlier in their lives.
