The relationship between spirituality and religiosity on psychological outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults: A meta-analytic review

The present study used meta-analytic techniques to examine the association between spirituality and religiosity (SIR) and psychological outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults. The outcome measures of risk behavior, depression, well-being, self-esteem, and personality were examined with respect to the influence of S/R across 75 independent studies encompassing 66,273 adolescents and emerging adults extracted from electronic databases between 1990 and 2010. Results showed significant main effect sizes of SIR with several outcomes: risk behavior, -.17; depression, -.11; well-being, .16; self-esteem, .11 and the personality measures of Conscientiousness, .19; Agreeableness, .18; Openness, .14. Moderating effects were found for age, race, and type of SIR measure. Results show that S/R has a positive effect on psychological outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults. Possible explanations and implications of these results are discussed. (C) 2011 The Foundation for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.