The Influence of Religiosity on the Emotional–Behavioral Health of Adolescents

Abstract

Religion is a multidimensional structure. Former studies examined only one or a few dimensions of the religion and the study that has looked comprehensively to the topic was not found. Considering this feature, the impact of religion on the emotional–behavioral health of adolescents should be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of religiosity on the emotional–behavioral health of adolescents. Data were collected using religiosity, trauma resilience scale, emotional abuse, and Achenbach’s Youth Self Report questionnaires in a 511-person sample of adolescents (318 girls and 193 boys). The results showed that various dimensions of religiosity are positively correlated with emotional–behavioral health of adolescents. A positive correlation was found between individual and familial factors with emotional–behavioral health of adolescents. Religiosity directly affects the emotional–behavioral health of adolescents. It also indirectly affects the emotional–behavioral health of adolescents through familial and individual factors. These findings show the important role of individual and familial factors in the impact of religiosity on the emotional–behavioral health of adolescents.