Citation
King, P. E., Ramos, J. S., & Clardy, C. E. (2013). Searching for the sacred: Religion, spirituality, and adolescent development. In K. I. Pargament, J. J. Exline, & J. W. Jones (Eds.), APA handbook of psychology, religion, and spirituality (Vol. 1): Context, theory, and research (pp. 513–528). American Psychological Association.
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the nature and function of religion and spirituality in the lives of diverse adolescents. The chapter addresses religion and spirituality from two perspectives. First, religious and spiritual development (RSD) are described as unique domains of human development; we explore how young people grow and develop in both religiousness and spirituality. Second, we discuss how religion and spirituality may serve as developmental systems that distinctively contribute to and shape adolescent development overall. The chapter provides an overview of the existing literature on religion and spirituality in the lives of adolescents by drawing on the integrative paradigm of the psychology of religion and spirituality (see Chapter 1 in this volume). First, we describe current sociological trends that elucidate the known demographics of adolescent RSD. After examining the prevalence of religion and spirituality among adolescents, we discuss its developmental pertinence during adolescence. Following, we review the literature and offer conceptualizations of key terms related to religion and spirituality. We conclude this section by offering an overview of a developmental systems perspective as a helpful framework for understanding diverse expressions and experiences of adolescent religiousness and spirituality. Next, we look at how religion and spirituality have the potential to affect adolescent development overall. Through a review of empirical literature, the chapter then examines how religion and spirituality might make a difference in the lives of youth, promoting indicators of thriving, buffering against risk behaviors, and assisting in coping with life struggles. To give a full representation we examine religion and spirituality’s potential negative influence on adolescents as well. Finally, we consider implications of work in this area for practice and future directions for research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Copyright
Year: 2013
Holder: American Psychological Association
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/14045-028
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