Re-assessing the relationship between religion and juvenile delinquency

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the research examines the nature of the relationship between religion and juvenile delinquency. The research reveals that individual-level religiosity negatively relates to individual-level delinquency. The current study indicates that there is a significant correlation between religiosity and delinquency. The omnibus concept of religiosity was significantly related to delinquency along with the individual measures. This research provides support for the idea that religion is a multifaceted concept with many dimensions that should be examined as an index and separately. Also, while studies have varied in their estimation of the types of delinquent offenses that are reduced by religion (Baier and Wright 2001; Desmond, Soper, Purpura, and Smith 2009; Cochran Wood and Arneklev 1994; Rodell and Benda 1999), the current research maintains that religiosity affects a wide variety of delinquency including truant, property and violent offenses. In addition, the research indicates found that family bonds, friends and contextual variables do not diminish the inverse relationship between religiosity and delinquency. Finally, religiosity reduced delinquency in both Wave I and Wave II indicating that religiosity influences delinquent behavior over time.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Jennifer Biddl