Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between religiosity and conduct problems in a racially diverse sample of high school
aged adolescents (ages 13–19) who attended public schools in a large metropolitan area. The results of the study found racial
and gender differences in religiosity: African American adolescents were more likely to attend church, describe themselves
as very religious and use Collaborative and Deferring religious coping styles; they were less likely to use Self-Directing
religious coping styles when compared to Caucasian adolescents. Females were more likely to be involved in church activities,
use a Collaborative religious coping style and tended to be less likely to use a Self-Directing religious coping style when
compared to males. The results of multiple regression analyses, after controlling for race, gender, and self-reported religiousness
found that Self-Directing and Deferring religious coping styles were risk factors for conduct problems; there was no relationship
between Collaborative religious coping and conduct problems. The findings from the study provide additional support for the
importance of considering religiosity, race and gender when examining mental health outcomes in adolescents and have implications
for the development of mental health interventions for adolescents.
aged adolescents (ages 13–19) who attended public schools in a large metropolitan area. The results of the study found racial
and gender differences in religiosity: African American adolescents were more likely to attend church, describe themselves
as very religious and use Collaborative and Deferring religious coping styles; they were less likely to use Self-Directing
religious coping styles when compared to Caucasian adolescents. Females were more likely to be involved in church activities,
use a Collaborative religious coping style and tended to be less likely to use a Self-Directing religious coping style when
compared to males. The results of multiple regression analyses, after controlling for race, gender, and self-reported religiousness
found that Self-Directing and Deferring religious coping styles were risk factors for conduct problems; there was no relationship
between Collaborative religious coping and conduct problems. The findings from the study provide additional support for the
importance of considering religiosity, race and gender when examining mental health outcomes in adolescents and have implications
for the development of mental health interventions for adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-012-9584-2
- Authors
- Sherry Davis Molock, Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Crystal L. Barksdale, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024