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African American Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being: The Impact of Parents’ Religious Socialization on Adolescents’ Religiosity

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Abstract

The dearth of research literature on the religious beliefs and practices of African American adolescents has led to increased empirical inquiry, yet a lack of research considers African American adolescents’ religious beliefs and practices as an important developmental milestone. This study explored how African American parents’ religious socialization affected youth religious experiences and served as a culturally specific strength-based asset that promotes psychological well-being. Our sample included a socioeconomically diverse sample of 154 African American families. Accounting for demographics, adolescents’ relationship and communication with God were found to be associated with a healthier psychological well-being. Additionally, parents’ religious socialization impacted the relationship between youths religious beliefs and practice and psychological well-being. Overall, results suggest that parents’ and adolescents’ religious beliefs can promote psychological well-being.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by National Science Foundation (Grant No. 0109206).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes

  2. College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology, Prairie View A&M University, 151 Don Clark Building, Prairie View, TX, 77095, USA

    Pamela P. Martin

  3. Department of Social Welfare, University of California Los Angeles Luskin School of Public Affairs, 3250 Public Affairs Building, Room 5244, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Donte T. Boyd

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  1. Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes
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  3. Donte T. Boyd
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Correspondence to Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes.

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Butler-Barnes, S.T., Martin, P.P. & Boyd, D.T. African American Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being: The Impact of Parents’ Religious Socialization on Adolescents’ Religiosity. Race Soc Probl 9, 115–126 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-017-9199-8

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