Religiosity of young adults: does childhood maltreatment make a difference?

Abstract

Previous research on the association between maltreatment in childhood and later religious beliefs and behaviours suggests that maltreatment may have either negative or positive influences on religiosity. However, methodological limitations of previous studies may limit their generalisability. The present study attempted to address these limitations. We examined associations between childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and several dimensions of adult religiosity in a large sample of college students (N = 763). Associations between child maltreatment and religiosity were weak (rs ≤ 0.09). After controlling for possible demographic confounds, the only significant association was between childhood emotional abuse and religious questing.

Keywords:

• religiosity
• religious affiliation
• young adults
• childhood maltreatment
• child physical abuse
• child sexual abuse

Notes

Note

1. Results were similar if the three childhood maltreatment measures were dichotomised (into never/ever abused categories), and if untransformed (rather than log-transformed) CPA and CEA scores were used.