2-034 - Religiosity as a Multifaceted Resource for Positive Youth Development among Diverse Youth

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Too often overlooked, religion is an important dimension of human development and social reality across time and space. Individuals might have evolving questions about, and relationships with, religion as they grow. In addition, religiousness and religious communities can be valuable internal and external assets for youth development, especially for youth in adversity—suggesting that religiousness may serve to promote positive youth development and thriving. Despite the growing interest in religious development, existing research has only begun to examine the multidimensionality, developmental trajectories, and developmental processes of religiosity among diverse youth in various developmental settings. In this multi-disciplinary symposium, international researchers and practitioners tackle issues related to religious development in children and adolescents in specific in-school, out-of-school, and socioeconomic settings from a multidimensional, developmental, process-oriented, and context-specific perspective.

The first presentation uses longitudinal data from children involved in religious and non-religious programs (in-school and out-of-school) to provide insights into the divergent developmental pathways of religious belief, emotion, and practice. In the second presentation, researchers examined longitudinal interrelations between adolescent religiousness and self-regulation by operationalizing the two constructs both as overall aggregates and as multidimensional constructs. The third presentation discusses findings on the relations among religion, social connection, spirituality, and hopeful future expectations among Salvadoran youth living in chronic violence and poverty. Finally, a scholar with expertise in religious and spiritual development will discuss the conceptual, methodological, and practical issues concerning the research on, and practice of, religious development in childhood and adolescence to promote positive youth development.

Sub Unit

• Moral Development

Chair

• Jun Wang, Texas A & M University

Discussant

• Pamela Ebstyne King, Fuller Theological Seminary

Individual Presentations

• Contextual Influence on the Development of Children’s Religious Belief, Emotion, and Practice - Presenting Author: Jun Wang, Texas A & M University

• Longitudinal Relations between Adolescent Religiousness and Self-regulation - Presenting Author: Sam Hardy, Brigham Young University; Non-Presenting Author: Chayce Baldwin, Brigham Young University; Non-Presenting Author: Jungmeen Kim-Spoon, Virginia Tech

• Exploring Ecological Assets and Personal Strengths among Salvadoran Youth: The Complex Relation between Religion and Hope - Presenting Author: Jennifer Medina Vaughn, Fuller Graduate School of Psychology; Non-Presenting Author: Yeonsoo Yoo, Fuller Theological Seminary; Non-Presenting Author: Pamela Ebstyne King, Fuller Theological Seminary; Non-Presenting Author: Johnathan Tirrell, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Elizabeth Dowling, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Richard M. Lerner, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Jacqueline V Lerner, Boston College; Non-Presenting Author: Kate Williams, Compassion International; Non-Presenting Author: Guillermo Iraheta, Compassion International; Non-Presenting Author: Alistair Sim, Compassion International