Religion Is Good, Belief Is Better: Religion, Religiosity, and Substance Use Among Young Swiss Men

Abstract

We examined the influence of religious denomination (RD) and religiosity/spirituality on licit and illicit substance use beyond the potential impact of parental variables. Data from a representative sample of Swiss men (n = 5,387) approximately 20 years old were collected between August 2010 and November 2011. We asked single item questions about RD and religious self-description (RSD) (including aspects of spirituality). Alcohol use, smoking, and illicit drug use was measured as outcome variables. Logistic regressions (adjusting for parenting and socioeconomic background) revealed that religiosity/spirituality was inversely associated with substance use and that it was more strongly associated than denomination. RD, particularly having no denomination, was independently associated with the use of most substances. The study's limitations, and the implications for future work are noted.

Keywords :

• religious self-description
• religious denomination
• parental monitoring
• parental regulation
• cannabis
• alcohol
• tobacco
• cocaine
• magic mushrooms
• ecstasy

Notes

3 The reader is asked to consider that the implication of some type(s) of causal relationships needs delineation and is referred to Hills's criteria for causation would be helpful. These were developed in order to help assist researchers and clinicians determine if risk factors were causes of a particular disease or outcomes or merely associated (Hill, 1965)). Editor's note.