Impacts of Religion on Established Adult Women’s Lives and Development: Black Jamaican Women’s Perspectives

Scholars recently conceptualized ages 30–45 as a distinct stage of development called established adulthood. One important area that may be especially relevant and influential at this age stage is religiosity as it may influence established adults’ values, beliefs, and practices. At the same time, there is a dearth of research on established adulthood, especially in Black Jamaican families. Given the high prevalence of female-headed households in Jamaica, Black Jamaican established adult women’s perspectives on the role of religion in their lives is a rich area for exploration. The purpose of this study was to explore how Black Jamaican established adult women make sense of the influences of religion on their lives and development. Using framework analysis, semi-structured interviews with 20 Black Jamaican established adult women with multiple roles (e.g., mother, spouse, and employee) were analyzed. The data mapped onto three major themes: (a) the exposure of religion, (b) reactions to early religious experiences, and (c) how religion changed and guided established adult women’s lives. These themes revealed that relational agency was important in religious development. Also, from both the lifespan and life-course perspectives on religious development, the findings reflected equifinality and multifinality in the Black Jamaican established adult women’s lives, including their, values, beliefs, and practices. Implications for individuals, families, and communities are discussed.