Patterns of Shared Religious Attendance and Positive Stepfamily Functioning

Abstract

This study used data from Add Health to examine the relationship between shared participation in religious activities and positive stepfamily functioning as indicated by the closeness of the stepfather–stepchild bond, the closeness of the mother–child bond, the quality of the mother–stepfather relationship, the adolescent's perception of family belonging, and the stability of the mother–stepfather marriage. The study incorporated information on shared religious participation between adolescents and their mothers and stepfathers by examining whether adolescents reported frequently attending religious services or church‐related events with both parents, with one parent, or with neither parent. Shared religious attendance was positively associated with several aspects of stepfamily functioning above and beyond the positive association of family members’ engagement in other types of shared activities.

Links between shared and unique perspectives of parental psychological control and adolescent emotional problems: A dyadic daily diary study

“…In contrast to the between level, at the within and daily level, parents and adolescents showed convergent perceptions of psychological control and emotional problems. The shared perspectives could be a product of the common environment and experiences shared by family members (e.g., family dinner, religious practices; Dyer et al, 2014; King et al, 2019). In the context of daily family lives, shared family activities provide a unified context within which parents and adolescents evaluate themselves and each other.…”

Intergenerational Affectual Solidarity in Biological and Step Relations: The Moderating Role of Religious Similarity

“…Religious concordance between stepparents and stepchildren may provide some degree of connection that may overcome the social distance that tends to be found in these relationships. In fact, evidence indicates that joint family religious service attendance is associated with higher step‐relationship quality (King, Lindstrom, & Washington, ).…”