Older Adolescents' Perceptions of the Social Context, Impact, and Development of their Spiritual/Religious Beliefs and Practices

Abstract

Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices develop in the context of social relationships, influenced primarily by family and peers. Among older adolescents, such beliefs may shape important decisions. As part of a mixed method preliminary study of 28 university students, participants were asked to write about how similar or different their beliefs were from those of their parents and closest friends, how these beliefs influenced major decisions, and how their beliefs changed since attending the university. Most participants held similar beliefs to those of their parents and friends, one-half said these beliefs influenced major decisions, and one-half said their beliefs were unchanged since attending the university. Findings add to the description of how religious and spiritual beliefs develop during adolescence.