Losing my religion: The social sources of religious decline in early adulthood

Citation

Uecker, J.; Regnerus, M. D.; & Vaaler, M. (2007). Losing my religion: The social sources of religious decline in early adulthood. Social Forces. vol. 85 (4) pp. 1667-1692

Abstract

Many Americans exhibit declining religiosity during early adulthood. There is no consensus about why this occurs, though longstanding assumptions suggest the secularizing effects of higher education, normative deviance and life course factors. We evaluate these effects on decreasing frequency of religious practice, diminished importance of religion and disaffiliation from religion altogether. Results from analyses of the Add Health study indicate that only religious participation suffers substantial declines in young adulthood. Contrary to expectations, emerging adults that avoid college exhibit the most extensive patterns of religious decline, undermining conventional wisdom about the secularizing effect of higher education. Marriage curbs religious decline, while cohabitation, nonmarital sex, drugs and alcohol use each accelerate diminished religiosity — especially religious participation — during early adulthood.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/sof.2007.0083

Keyword(s)

Religion

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Social Forces

Author(s)

Uecker, J.
Regnerus, M. D.
Vaaler, M.

Year Published

2007

Volume Number

85

Issue Number

4

Pages

1667-1692

DOI

10.1353/sof.2007.0083

Reference ID

660