Religious Development in African American Adolescents: Growth Patterns That Offer Protection

Abstract

Although religiosity promotes resilient outcomes in African American (AA) adolescents, there is a lack of research that examines the protective role of religious development in the context of stressful life events (SLEs). In 1,595 AA adolescents, a cohort-sequential design was used from ages 12 to 18 to examine subtypes of religiosity, as well as distinct developmental patterns within subtypes. The protective role of religious development was also examined in the context of SLEs. The study findings indicated two subtypes of religiosity-extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity-as well as low and high developmental patterns in the identified subtypes. Furthermore, the protective influence of extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity gradually diminished from age 12 to 18 in the context of SLEs.

Psychological pathways from racial discrimination to cortisol in African American males and females

“…In addition, discrimination experience was associated with more symptoms of anxiety and depression. Notably, rates of discrimination, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms in our sample were comparable to AA samples from larger community or nationally-representative samples (Hudson, Neighbors, Geronimus, & Jackson, 2015; Lee & Neblett, 2017; Williams, Chapman, Wong, & Turkheimer, 2012)…”

Violence Exposure and Sexual Risk Behaviors for African American Adolescent Girls: The Protective Role of Natural Mentorship and Organizational Religious Involvement

“…In addition, some religious communities encourage members to participate by using their talents and gifts (e.g., singing or playing instruments during services). To this end, Lee and Neblett () surmised that religious involvement augments higher self‐esteem and improved emotional regulation. Higher self‐esteem and emotional regulation may, in turn, reduce the likelihood of engaging in health risk behaviors (Broderick & Jennings, ; Veselska et al., ).…”

Patterns of Spiritual Connectedness during Adolescence: Links to Coping and Adjustment in Low-Income Urban Youth

“…Religiosity and spirituality are protective resources that buffer against adverse effects of stressful life events (Cotton et al. 2006; Lee and Neblett 2017). Despite this positive role of religiosity and spirituality, researchers have found that with time, adolescents’ beliefs and participation in religious activities decline (Desmond et al 2010).…”

“…Adolescence is a challenging stage involving the transition from childhood to adulthood, and from dependence to independence. During this stage the church, and spirituality more generally, can function as a protective resource against several adverse life challenges (Lee and Neblett 2017). Aside from major physical and psychological changes that may cause some adolescents significant distress (Kelsey and Simons 2014), African Americans in the United States experience further challenges brought on by institutional racism.…”

“…Aside from major physical and psychological changes that may cause some adolescents significant distress (Kelsey and Simons 2014), African Americans in the United States experience further challenges brought on by institutional racism. As a result, African American adolescents experience more stress and are more vulnerable to develop mental illness (e.g., depression) compared to adolescents of other racial groups (Adkins et al 2009; Lee and Neblett 2017). Despite the challenges experienced by African Americans adolescents, not all of these youth develop adverse outcomes.…”