Religiosity Across the Life Course: Does the Strength of the Religiosity-Crime Relationship Change?

• In Event: Developmental, Life-Course Research on Delinquency: Offending Trajectories and Patterns

Abstract

Previous studies have found a variety of physical, emotional, and mental benefits associated with higher levels of self-reported religiosity and a consistently inverse relationship between religiosity and delinquent and/or criminal behaviors. In recent years the focus has shifted from determining if there is a relationship between religiosity and delinquency/crime towards examining the magnitude or extent of the relationship. However, limited attention has been given to the examination of the strength of this relationship from a life course perspective. Utilizing four waves of data (1994 - 2008) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), this study conducts a series of panel analyses and bivariate comparisons to examine the religiosity/crime relationship over the life course. In addition, the study examines whether or not there are any group differences in the strength of this relationship based upon race, ethnicity, gender, age, or religious affiliation.

Authors

• Maisha Cooper, Sam Houston State University

• Jeff Bouffard, Sam Houston State University