Exploring Youth Religiosity: Research Among Catholic Confirmands in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Split–Makarska (Croatia)

Abstract

This paper presents research on some aspects of youth religiosity among Catholic Confirmation candidates in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Split–Makarska, Croatia, as part of a broader 2020 study aimed at assessing confirmands’ satisfaction with Confirmation preparation. However, this paper specifically focuses on selected variables related to youth religiosity. Conducted on a sample of 473 confirmands using a non-probabilistic sampling method, this study employed a survey to measure some aspects of personal and actual religiosity, including indicators such as religious self-identification, the importance of faith, the frequency of Mass attendance, and the frequency of personal and family prayer. Findings reveal that confirmands with a strong religious self-identification are more engaged in religious practices, with frequent Mass attendance and the practice of both personal and family prayer. Sociodemographic variables, including gender and parental education, did not show a significant effect on these aspects of youth religiosity, while settlement size correlated with religious self-identification and the frequency of Mass attendance. Confirmands from smaller, but not from the smallest settlements, demonstrated higher religiosity, consistent with modernization theory, which suggests that urban settings may encourage secularization trends. These findings highlight the importance of pastoral strategies that support both communal and personalized expressions of faith, emphasizing the need for further research to understand evolving patterns of youth religiosity within the Croatian context.