The Center for Research on Child & Adolescent Development

Spirituality, Religion & Youth DevelopmentSpirituality, Religion & Youth Development

Pamela Ebstyne King, Ph.D., M.Div.

Center for Research on Child &Adolescent Development

Fuller Theological Seminary

Pamela Ebstyne King, Ph.D., M.Div.

Center for Research on Child &Adolescent Development

Fuller Theological Seminary

1) Overview of study of spirituality, religion,and youth development

2) As a resource for identity development

3) As a resource for social capital

4) As helpful or hindering resource ofdevelopment

1) Overview of study of spirituality, religion,and youth development

2) As a resource for identity development

3) As a resource for social capital

4) As helpful or hindering resource ofdevelopment

Spirituality & YouthSpirituality & Youth

Spirituality isgaining increasedattention withinthe academic andpublic spheres

Increasedpublications andresearch

Spirituality isgaining increasedattention withinthe academic andpublic spheres

Increasedpublications andresearch

Spirituality, Religion, and PsychologySpirituality, Religion, and Psychology

G. Stanley Hall (1904) wrote that religiousawakenings or conversion was a “natural,normal, universal, and necessary…” part ofadolescents (p. 301).

This view was rejected by 20th centuryscientific psychologists such as Thorndikeand Watson, who looked on Hall as anoutdated 19th century scholar (Siegel &White, 1982) .

G. Stanley Hall (1904) wrote that religiousawakenings or conversion was a “natural,normal, universal, and necessary…” part ofadolescents (p. 301).

This view was rejected by 20th centuryscientific psychologists such as Thorndikeand Watson, who looked on Hall as anoutdated 19th century scholar (Siegel &White, 1982) .

Revival of InterestRevival of Interest

1.Polls demonstrate that spirituality and religion areimportant to significant number of adults and youthin America

2.Sociologists document new and growing trends inAmerican spirituality and religiosity

3.Religious institutions playing increased civic role

4.Spiritual and/or religious youth report betterdevelopmental outcomes

1.Polls demonstrate that spirituality and religion areimportant to significant number of adults and youthin America

2.Sociologists document new and growing trends inAmerican spirituality and religiosity

3.Religious institutions playing increased civic role

4.Spiritual and/or religious youth report betterdevelopmental outcomes

Revival of Interest in Spirituality & ReligionRevival of Interest in Spirituality & Religion

Gallup poll of youth ages13-17 (gathered 1988-1998)

95% believe in God oruniversal spirit

75% agree “very much" oragree "somewhat" with thestatement “I try to follow theteachings of my religion”

 74% pray frequently oroccasionally

Gallup poll of youth ages13-17 (gathered 1988-1998)

95% believe in God oruniversal spirit

75% agree “very much" oragree "somewhat" with thestatement “I try to follow theteachings of my religion”

 74% pray frequently oroccasionally

Spirituality and Developmental OutcomesSpirituality and Developmental Outcomes

Acts as buffer againstrisk behaviors:

Substance abuse

Delinquency

Violence

Early onset of sexualactivity

Acts as buffer againstrisk behaviors:

Substance abuse

Delinquency

Violence

Early onset of sexualactivity

Promotes the presenceof thriving:

Academic competence

Coping with stress

Meaning and purpose

Prosocial values

Caring

Volunteer service

Spirituality and religion as distinct butoverlapping constructsSpirituality and religion as distinct butoverlapping constructs

SpiritualitySpirituality

ReligionReligion

SpiritualitySpirituality

Considered divine, holy, or beyond the material

A universal human capacity or a quality of aperson’s character, personality, or disposition withtendencies towards transcendence orconnectedness beyond the self

Related to a manner of living that is carried out withthe deep awareness of self, others, and divine

Awareness of other yields a sense of meaning orpurpose in life that provides direction or guidanceoften at an existential level.

Considered divine, holy, or beyond the material

A universal human capacity or a quality of aperson’s character, personality, or disposition withtendencies towards transcendence orconnectedness beyond the self

Related to a manner of living that is carried out withthe deep awareness of self, others, and divine

Awareness of other yields a sense of meaning orpurpose in life that provides direction or guidanceoften at an existential level.

Spirituality often promotes a heightenedconsciousness of others that triggers asense of self that is intertwined andresponsible to others.

An emotional orientation towards other thatserves as a motivational force, propellingindividuals to care for others and contributeto something greater than themselves.

Spirituality often promotes a heightenedconsciousness of others that triggers asense of self that is intertwined andresponsible to others.

An emotional orientation towards other thatserves as a motivational force, propellingindividuals to care for others and contributeto something greater than themselves.

ReligionReligion

“An organized system of beliefs, practices,rituals, and symbols designed

(a) to facilitate closeness to the sacred ortranscendent (God, higher power, or ultimatetruth/reality) and

(b) to foster an understanding of one’srelationship and responsibility to others in livingtogether in community” (Koenig, McCullough, and Larson,2001, p. 18)

“An organized system of beliefs, practices,rituals, and symbols designed

(a) to facilitate closeness to the sacred ortranscendent (God, higher power, or ultimatetruth/reality) and

(b) to foster an understanding of one’srelationship and responsibility to others in livingtogether in community” (Koenig, McCullough, and Larson,2001, p. 18)

Religion, Spirituality & IdentityReligion, Spirituality & Identity

Central to thedevelopmental taskof adolescence isidentitydevelopment

Affirm sense ofuniqueness

Locate them withsomething greaterthan self

Central to thedevelopmental taskof adolescence isidentitydevelopment

Affirm sense ofuniqueness

Locate them withsomething greaterthan self

Religion & Identity DevelopmentReligion & Identity Development

Ideological Context

Social Context

Spiritual Context

Ideological Context

Social Context

Spiritual Context

As Ideological ContextAs Ideological Context

Religious traditions provide an ideologicalcontext in which a young person cangenerate a sense of meaning, order, andplace in the world that is crucial to identityformation (Erikson, 1968).

As Ideological ContextAs Ideological Context

BeliefsBeliefs

ValuesValues

Moral CodesMoral Codes

PersonalPersonal

BeliefBelief

System/System/

WorldviewWorldview

IdentityIdentity

MeaningMeaning

OrderOrder

Place in worldPlace in world

As Social ContextAs Social Context

Exemplifies these principles andbehavioral norms in historicalevents and actual lives (Erikson,1964, 1965)

Role models

Intergenerational relationships

Network closure

Experiences (leadership andservice)

Exemplifies these principles andbehavioral norms in historicalevents and actual lives (Erikson,1964, 1965)

Role models

Intergenerational relationships

Network closure

Experiences (leadership andservice)

Spiritual ContextSpiritual Context

Affirmation ofUniqueness

Connection to

supernatural, human,or natural other

Ritual

Spiritual Practices

Affirmation ofUniqueness

Connection to

supernatural, human,or natural other

Ritual

Spiritual Practices

Affirms the Uniqueness of the IndividualAffirms the Uniqueness of the Individual

Affirms and celebratesthe uniqueness andgiftedness of anindividual

Child of God factor

Covenant people of God

Affirms and celebratesthe uniqueness andgiftedness of anindividual

Child of God factor

Covenant people of God

Spirituality through connection to othersSpirituality through connection to others

Part of communityof past, present, andfuture body ofbelievers

Giving youth aprofound sense ofbeing a part ofsomething greaterthan themselves

Part of communityof past, present, andfuture body ofbelievers

Giving youth aprofound sense ofbeing a part ofsomething greaterthan themselves

Spirituality through CreationSpirituality through Creation

Identity as part ofcreated order

Perspective

Stewardship ofenvironment

Identity as part ofcreated order

Perspective

Stewardship ofenvironment

Spirituality through ritualsSpirituality through rituals

Experiences oftranscendence throughritual

Worship practices

Rights of passage

Spiritual Practices

Meditation, prayers,fasting, service

Experiences oftranscendence throughritual

Worship practices

Rights of passage

Spiritual Practices

Meditation, prayers,fasting, service

Religion & IdentityReligion & Identity

IdeologyIdeology

SpiritualitySpirituality

Social InfluencesSocial Influences

Identity/

Fidelity

Religion & IdentityReligion & Identity

IdeologyIdeology

SpiritualitySpirituality

Social InfluencesSocial Influences

Fidelity/

Identity

Thriving

How does religion influence positivedevelopment?How does religion influence positivedevelopment?

Religion

Thriving

Religion & Social CapitalReligion & Social Capital

Religion

Moral Outcomes

Social Capital

Do religious youth have more socialcapital?Do religious youth have more socialcapital?

SocialSocial

InteractionInteraction

Shared VisionShared Vision

TrustTrust

Religion

American SampleAmerican Sample

1524 students total

53% female

Ages from 13-19, M = 15.89

Racially diverse

27% Hispanic

23% African-American

21% Caucasian

13% Asian

8% Mixed Race

8% Other

1524 students total

53% female

Ages from 13-19, M = 15.89

Racially diverse

27% Hispanic

23% African-American

21% Caucasian

13% Asian

8% Mixed Race

8% Other

American FindingsAmerican Findings

Religiously active youth will report higher levels ofsocial capital resources than nonreligious youth.

SocialSocial

InteractionInteraction

Shared VisionShared Vision

TrustTrust

Moral

Outcomes

Religion

Social Capital ResourcesSocial Capital Resources

ParentParent

TrustTrust

ParentParent

AdultAdult

FriendFriend

TrustTrust

Adult

Trust

FriendFriend

TrustTrust

ParentParent

Social Interaction Social Interaction

SocialSocial

InteractionInteraction

SocialSocial

InteractionInteraction

Friend

Social Interaction

AdultAdult

Social InteractionSocial Interaction

Parent

Shared Vision

SharedShared

VisionVision

SharedShared

VisionVision

AdultAdult

Shared VisionShared Vision

FriendFriend

Shared VisionShared Vision

Spirituality & Religion Gone AwrySpirituality & Religion Gone Awry

Other

Self

OptimalOptimal

Cult/Cult/

OppressiveOppressive

NarcissisticNarcissistic

BereftBereft