Poster #130 - Links From Multiple Aspects of Religiosity to Psychological Adjustment Across Different Religious Groups

• In Event: 1-061 - Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Section - Moral Development

Integrative Statement

Emerging adulthood is characterized by exploration of life possibilities and values, including religious beliefs (Arnett, 2000). Religiosity is proposed to have positive effects on psychological adjustment (Yonker et al., 2012) perhaps through the promotion of self-regulation, a process in which individuals adjust their behavior to pursue desired goals (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). However, limited research explores the multidimensional nature of religiosity (Ano et al., 2009) and compares these associations across different religions. Thus, we compared associations between three dimensions of religiosity and psychological adjustment through self-regulation across emerging adults affiliated with different religious groups. Specifically, we focused on religious commitment (the degree to which religious beliefs are personally important), religious engagement (behavioral participation in religious activities), and religious struggle (questioning about one’s religious beliefs) across groups of Christian, Muslim, Other (Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and religiously-unaffiliated emerging adults.
Participants were 533 (71% female) emerging adults (Mage = 20.31, SD = 1.83) who self-identified as Christians (n = 254), Muslims (n = 45), Other (n = 89), and Unaffiliated (n = 145). Participants reported on their religious commitment, engagement, and struggle (Astin et al., 2011; α = .97, .87, and .73, respectively), self-regulation (Carey et al., 2004; α = .91), psychological well-being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995; α = .88), anxiety (Spielberger, 1983; α = .93), and depressive symptoms (Radloff, 1977; α = .92). Group comparisons of all constructs are shown in Table 1.
A serial mediation analysis was conducted controlling for participants’ age, gender, and their parents’ education (Figure 1). The model fit the data well, χ2(11) = 7.40, p > .05, RMSEA = 0.00, CFI = 1.00, SRMR = 0.02. Compared to Christians, Muslims had higher religious commitment, which in turn was associated with better self-regulation and psychological adjustment, whereas other religious and unaffiliated groups had lower religious commitment than Christians, which in turn was associated with poorer self-regulation and psychological adjustment. Moreover, Muslims had higher religious engagement than Christians, which in turn was associated with poorer self-regulation and psychological adjustment, whereas other religious and unaffiliated groups had lower religious engagement, which in turn was associated with better self-regulation and psychological adjustment. Finally, the unaffiliated group had lower religious struggle than Christians, which in turn was associated with better self-regulation and psychological adjustment.
Better self-regulation led to positive psychological adjustment across all groups. Importantly, unique patterns were found in the associations between specific aspects of religiosity and reported self-regulatory abilities across religious groups. Specifically, strong commitment to religious beliefs was associated with better self-regulation, perhaps by motivating emerging adults’ pursuit of goals and self-monitoring (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). However, engagement in religious practices alone (after controlling for other religious aspects) may reflect uninternalized routine activities that undermine self-regulatory resources and abilities (Krok, 2014). Religious belief struggles were also associated with reduced self-regulation, perhaps because fundamental values that regulate behavior were questioned. Findings are discussed considering self-regulatory abilities during this developmental period of intensified exploration of roles, values, and beliefs, including those regarding religion.

Authors

• Xiaoli Zong, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Presenting Author

• Jing Yu, NICHD
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jillian J. Shen, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author

• Charissa S. L. Cheah, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  Non-Presenting Author