Examining the Relationship Between Religiosity and Academic Outcomes: New Evidence Using Sibling Data

• In Event: 61.069 - MTCC Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 61.069-11 - Religion and Schooling

Abstract

Studies show that religiously engaged adolescents have better academic outcomes than religiously disengaged adolescents. However, it is unclear whether the “effect” of religiosity on academic outcomes is causal or spurious. This study removes environmental influences such as family background and neighborhood effects from the effects of religiosity since factors are likely to differentially confound the effects of religiosity on academic outcomes. Using the family structure of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study offers strong evidence that religiosity is positively linked with GPA and educational attainment, even after controlling for family level effects. We also find that the positive relationship is not a function of religious students having better academic ability.

Authors

• Ilana Horwitz, Stanford University

• Benjamin W. Domingue, Stanford University