Why do non secular teenagers interact in much less dangerous habits? A psychologist explains

(The Dialog) — Researchers have lengthy recognized that non secular teenagers are much less more likely to interact in dangerous habits. My group’s analysis explains why.

We surveyed a number of instances the non secular beliefs and danger habits of over 1,400 teenagers from Florida between 2010 and 2012. Though nearly all of our pattern self-identified as Christian, lots of the teenagers recognized as belonging to different non secular teams or as nonreligious.

Our work has centered on dangerous behaviors – akin to utilizing alcohol, medicine and tobacco – which might be socially unacceptable, doubtlessly dangerous and sometimes unlawful for teenagers.

What deters dangerous habits

We recognized 4 situations that may cut back dangerous habits: low alternative, attraction, acceptability and a excessive degree of self-control.

Take consuming alcohol, for instance. Teenagers are much less more likely to drink in the event that they lack alternatives or in the event that they view consuming to be unappealing, maybe as a result of the people who find themselves vital to them view consuming unfavorably. Teenagers are additionally much less more likely to drink alcohol in the event that they discover consuming to be morally unacceptable. Lastly, teenagers are much less more likely to drink if they’ll management their impulses and resist the temptation or peer stress.

These 4 situations overlap. For instance, peer disapproval can cut back each the attraction and the ethical acceptability of utilizing alcohol. As well as, circumstances akin to mum or dad supervision that restrict alternative may additionally talk that the habits is morally unacceptable or unappealing.

What faith presents

Though religions differ of their beliefs, all of them share three options that may have an effect on the 4 situations that deter dangerous habits.

First, all religions provide individuals a worldview, which is a set of beliefs that addresses questions akin to why individuals exist, how they need to behave and what occurs after they die.

Worldviews present tips that may affect the attraction and ethical acceptability of dangerous habits. My analysis group discovered that non secular teenagers – that’s, teenagers who specific stronger non secular beliefs and show extra frequent non secular habits – possess a stronger sense of that means and a transparent understanding of what’s proper versus unsuitable. These advantages of a worldview had been additionally linked to decrease charges of smoking, consuming and marijuana use.

Second, religions usually revolve round perception in an omniscient entity or God that screens and may punish or reward habits. Perception in God, in flip, can promote self-monitoring, self-control and in the end much less dangerous habits.

Third, religions will not be only a set of beliefs; they characterize communities of people that can affect thought and habits. They’ll restrict alternatives to interact in dangerous habits. They’ll convey values, akin to the concept utilizing alcohol is unsuitable, that affect the attraction and ethical acceptability of dangerous habits. And so they can provide help and emotions of belongingness that may assist youth with impulse management.

What stays unknown

Most analysis exploring the consequences of faith on danger habits examines Christians within the U.S. and Europe. We want extra analysis from different cultures and different religions. It’s noteworthy that our analysis means that the hyperlink between higher religiousness and fewer dangerous habits is usually the identical for girls and boys and throughout non secular and racial teams.

Analysis suggests {that a} sense of that means and clear understanding of what’s proper and unsuitable is linked to partaking in much less dangerous habits even amongst nonreligious teenagers. Our interpretation is that having a robust worldview issues greater than the supply of the worldview.

As well as, secular communities lack perception in an omnipotent God. However the bigger level is that monitoring and rewards from authority figures can affect dangerous habits. Secular communities could possibly cut back dangerous habits in teenagers via higher monitoring and rewards and by adapting the opposite options of faith that seem to discourage dangerous habits in non secular adolescents.

The Analysis Temporary is a brief tackle fascinating educational work.

(James A. Shepperd, Professor of Psychology, College of Florida. The views expressed on this commentary don’t essentially mirror these of Faith Information Service.)