Citation
Regnerus, M. D. & Uecker, J. (2006). Finding faith, losing faith: The prevalence and context of religious transformation during adolescence. Review of Religious Research. vol. 47 (3) pp. 217-237Abstract
Although the importance of social context in understanding religious "transformations" is commonly emphasized, we know little about the context in which transformations actually occur. Nor has the frequency of such experiences during adolescence (or adulthood, for that matter) been well documented. What we know primarily concerns classifying conversion experiences or personality types that appear most likely to undergo religious conversion. Using two waves of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data, we estimate the frequency of these experiences among American adolescents and evaluate common contextual predictors of religious transformation. We find personality and behavioral effects to be consistent predictors of rapid religious decline, but not growth. Conversely, demographic variables predicted religious growth, but not decline. Family effects predicted both types of change, but in very different ways. Only religious contexts were consistent predictors of both kinds of change. Furthermore, we find significant declines in religiosity easier to predict than rapid increases. Nevertheless, such religious change is not normative among adolescents: only 4-6 percent of adolescents report each form of drastic increase or decrease in religiosity.URL
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3512355Keyword(s)
ReligionReference Type
Journal ArticleJournal Title
Review of Religious ResearchAuthor(s)
Regnerus, M. D.Uecker, J.