Publication year: 2010
Source: Children and Youth Services Review, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 2 November 2010
Chau-kiu, Cheung , Jerf Wai-keung, Yeung , Charles Ching-hai, Chan
In view of the substantial number of recent studies on relationships between religious involvement and constructive or destructive behavior among adolescents, it is time to consolidate knowledge about these relationships through a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis conducted in this study involves 40 studies published from 1995 to 2009, covering adolescents with an average age of 16.45 years. Results show a weak overall effect (Zr=.19). Moreover, religious involvement exhibits a stronger relationship with constructive behavior than with destructive behavior. Compared with private religious involvement, public religious involvement shows a weaker relationship with constructive or destructive behaviors. Furthermore, non-representative sampling generates a stronger…