Adolescence is a developmental stage often marked by stress as youth transition from childhood into adulthood. Although many studies have examined behaviors throughout adolescence, much is still unknown about the trajectories that adolescents follow and factors that shape these pathways. Drawing on social integration and social control theories, I focus on how family and religion predict and shape trajectories of religious participation and two indicators of well-being, delinquent behavior and depressive symptoms, from early adolescence into young adulthood.
Data is taken from the 1988-2004 waves of the Child and Young Adult sample of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79). My sample consists of 2,472 youth who were interviewed from early adolescence (ages 10-14) through young adulthood (ages 20-25). Utilizing a group-based method of trajectory analysis, I examine whether family characteristics (e.g., family structure, processes, and resources) and religious characteristics (e.g., religious commitments within families, religious participation, and religious heterogamy) predict these trajectories independently and in accordance with one another, and also whether family and religious changes alter these trajectories over time.
Results show that despite many different individual pathways, a few trajectories of religious participation, delinquency, and depressive symptoms are commonly experienced by youth. For example, although most youth decrease their religious participation during adolescence, some youth maintain a constant level of religious participation while others actually increase their involvement as they move into young adulthood. In addition, although many youth report increased delinquency and depression during adolescence, other youth experience consistently high levels of well-being.
I also find that family and religious characteristics influence these trajectories. Residing with two parents, having supportive parents, and residing in a religious family all increase the likelihood that youth remain religious and experience greater well-being throughout adolescence. Moreover, religion appears to enhance the effects of family support on adolescent well-being and compensate for a lack of social control and integration in some families. Finally, there is evidence that family and religious changes may affect religious participation and well-being in young adulthood.
Overall, this dissertation provides a comprehensive illustration of the trajectories of religious participation, delinquent behavior, and depressive symptoms that youth experience into adulthood and how family and religious characteristics continually shape these trajectories.