Journal of Youth and Adolescence

, Volume 34, Issue 3, pp 245–255 | Cite as

The Role of Religion in the Transition to Adulthood for Young Emerging Adults

Article
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Recent research has highlighted the role of culture in emerging adulthood (age between 18 and 25 years). However, most studies have examined majority cultures (e.g., China) as well as subcultures (e.g., American ethnic minorities). Thus, work on other aspects of culture such as religion is needed given the emerging evidence that it may have an impact on development. This study explored the role of religious culture in the emerging adulthood of college students. Participants were 445 undergraduates (ages 18–20 years) from institutions that were Catholic (31 males, 89 females), Mormon (48 males, 200 females), and public (21 males, 56 females). Results found religious differences in (a) the criteria young people deemed necessary for adulthood, (b) the extent to which emerging adults felt they had achieved these criteria, (c) various aspects of spirituality including practices and beliefs, and (d) the behaviors in which emerging adults engage.

Keywords

emerging adulthood religion culture risk behaviors 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Arnett, J. J. (1994). Are college students adults? Their conceptions of the transition to adulthood. J. Adult Dev. 1: 154–168.Google Scholar
  2. Arnett, J. J. (1998). Learning to stand alone: The contemporary American transition to adulthood in cultural and historical context. Hum. Dev. 41: 295–315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am. Psychol. 55: 469–480.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  4. Arnett, J. J. (2001). Conceptions of the transition to adulthood: Perspectives from adolescence to midlife. J. Adult Dev. 8: 133–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Arnett, J. J. (2003). Conceptions of the transition to adulthood among emerging adults in American ethnic groups. In Arnett, J. J., and Galambos, N. L. (ed.), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development: Vol. 100, Exploring Cultural Conceptions of the Transition to Adulthood. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, pp. 63–75.Google Scholar
  6. Arnett, J. J., and Jensen, L. A. (2002). A congregation of one: Individualized religious beliefs among emerging adults. J. Adolesc. Res. 17: 451–467.Google Scholar
  7. Arnett, J. J., and Taber, S. (1994). Adolescence terminable and interminable: When does adolescence end? J. Youth Adolesc. 23: 517–537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Articles of Faith (1985). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT.Google Scholar
  9. Beaudoin, T. M. (1998). Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
  10. Between this world and the next. (2001, January 27). Economist. 358: 21–24.Google Scholar
  11. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1993). The ecology of cognitive development: Research models and fugitive findings. In Wozniak, R. H., and Fischer, K. W. (eds.), Development in Context: Acting and Thinking in Specific Environments. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 3–44.Google Scholar
  12. Cheah, C. S. L., and Nelson, L. J. (2004). The role of acculturation in the emerging adulthood of aboriginal college students. Int. J. Behav. Dev. 28: 495–507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Cathechism of the Catholic Church (1994). Liguori Press, Liguori, MO.Google Scholar
  14. Chickering, A. W. (1974). The impact of various college environments on personality development. J. Am. Coll. Health Assoc. 23: 82–93.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. Chickering, A. W., and McCormick, J. (1973). Personality development and the college experience. Res. Higher Educ. 1: 43–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Chickering, A. W., McDowell, J., and Campagna, D. (1969). Institutional differences and student development. J. Educ. Psychol. 60: 315–326.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  17. Crockett, L. J., Bingham, C. R., Chopak, J. S., and Vicary, J. R. (1996). Timing of first sexual intercourse: The role of social control, social learning, and problem behavior. J. Youth Adolesc. 25: 89–111.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. Davis, J. R. (1977). Going to College: The Study of Students and the Student Experience. Westview, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
  19. Dillon, M. (1996). The persistence of religious identity among college Catholics. J. Sci. Study Religion 5: 165–170.Google Scholar
  20. Dillon, M. (1999). Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power. Cambridge University Press, New York.Google Scholar
  21. Facio, A., and Micocci, F. (2003). Emerging adulthood in Argentina. In Arnett, J. J., and Galambos, N. L. (eds.), New Directions in Child Development: Vol. 100, Exploring Cultural Conceptions of the Transition to Adulthood. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, pp. 21–31.Google Scholar
  22. Feldman, K., and Newcomb, T. (1969). The Impact of College on Students. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
  23. Fowler, J. (1997). Moral stages and the development of faith. In Arnold, K., and Carreiro-King, I. (eds.), College Student Development and Academic Life: Psychological, Intellectual, Social, and Moral Issues. Garland, New York, pp. 160–190.Google Scholar
  24. Francis, L. J. (1994). Denominational identity, church attendance and drinking behaviour among adults in England. J. Alcohol Drug Educ. 39: 27–33.Google Scholar
  25. Galaway, B., and Huston, J. (eds.). (1996). Youth in Transition: Perspectives on Research and Policy. Thompson Educational, Toronto, Canada.Google Scholar
  26. Greene, A. L., Wheatley, S. M., and Aldava, J. F., IV (1992). Stages on life’s way: Adolescents’ implicit theories of the life course. J. Adolesc. Res. 7: 364–381.Google Scholar
  27. Hervieu-Leger, D. (1993). Present-day emotional renewals: The end of secularization or the end of religion? In Swatos, W. H. (ed.), A Future for Religion? New Paradigms for Social Analysis. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.Google Scholar
  28. Himes, M. J. (2001). “Finding God in all things:” A sacramental worldview and its effects. In Landy, T. M. (ed.), As Leaven in the World: Catholic Perspectives on Faith, Vocation and the Intellectual Life. Sheed and Ward, Franklin, WI, pp. 91–103.Google Scholar
  29. Hogan, D. P., and Astone, N. M. (1986). The transition to adulthood. Am. Sociol. Rev. 12: 109–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Hogue, D. R., Dinges, W. D., Johnson, M., and Gonzales, J. L. (2001). Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice. University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, IN.Google Scholar
  31. Jacob, P. (1957). Changing Values in College: An Exploratory Study of the Impact of College Teaching. Harper and Row, New York.Google Scholar
  32. Jarvik, E. (2002a, December 15). Living single in a state of matrimony. Deseret News. Retrieved August 26, 2003, from http://www.desnews.com.
  33. Jarvik, E. (2002b, December 15). Reading, writing, rings at Y. Deseret News. Retrieved August 26, 2003, from http://www.desnews.com.
  34. Jessor, S. L., and Jessor, R. (1975). Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social–psychological study over time. Dev. Psychol. 11: 473–484.Google Scholar
  35. Lee, H. B. (1974). Stand Ye in Holy Places. Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, UT.Google Scholar
  36. Lefkowitz, E. S., Gillen, M. M., Shearer, C. L., and Boone, T. L. (2004). Religiosity, sexual behaviors, and sexual attitudes during emerging adulthood. J. Sex Res. 41: 150–159.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  37. McKay, D. O. (1935, April). Conference Report, no. 116.Google Scholar
  38. Meeus, J., Iedema, J., Helsen, M., and Vollebergh, W. (1999). Patterns of adolescent identity development: Review of literature and longitudinal analysis. Dev. Rev. 19: 419–461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Miller, B. C., and Olson, T. D. (1988). Sexual attitudes and behavior of high school students in relation to background and contextual factors. J. Sex Res. 24: 194–200.Google Scholar
  40. Nelson, L. J. (2003). Rites of passage in emerging adulthood: Perspectives on young Mormons. In Arnett, J. J., and Galambos, N. L. (ed.), New Directions in Child and Adolescent Development: Vol. 100, Exploring Cultural Conceptions of the Transition to Adulthood. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, pp. 33–49.Google Scholar
  41. Nelson, L. J., Badger, S., and Wu, B. (2004). The influence of culture in emerging adulthood: Perspectives of Chinese college students. Int. J. Behav. Dev. 28: 26–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Nelson, L. J., and Barry, C. M. (2005). Distinguishing features of emerging adulthood: The role of self-classification as an adult. J. Adolesc. Res. 90: 242–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Oaks, D. H. (1993, November). The Great Plan of Happiness. Ensign, p. 72.Google Scholar
  44. Pascarella, E. T., Edison, M., Nora, A., Hagedorn, L. A., and Terenzini, P. T. (1996). Influences on student’s openness to diversity and challenge in the first year of college. J. Higher Educ. 67: 174– 195.Google Scholar
  45. Pascarella, E. T., and Terenzini, P. T. (1991). How College Affects Students. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
  46. Studer, M., and Thornton, A. (1987). Adolescent religiosity and contraceptive usage. J. Marriage Fam. 49: 117–128.Google Scholar
  47. Thornton, A., and Camburn, D. (1989). Religious participation and adolescent sexual behavior and attitudes. J. Marriage Fam. 51: 641–653.Google Scholar
  48. Upcraft, M. L., and Gardner, J. N. (1989). A comprehensive approach to enhancing freshman success. In Upcraft, M. L., and Gardner, J. N. (eds.), The Freshman Year Experience: Helping Students Survive and Succeed in College. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, pp. 1– 12.Google Scholar
  49. U. S. Bureau of the Census (1997). Statistical Abstracts of the United States, 1997. Author, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
  50. Waterman, A. S. (1985). Identity in the context of adolescent psychology. In Waterman, A. S. (ed.), New Directions for Child Development: Vol. 30, Identity in Adolescence: Processes and Contents. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, pp. 5–24.Google Scholar
  51. Weathersby, R. P. (1997). Ego development. In Arnold, K., and Carreiro-King, I. (eds.), College Student Development and Academic Life: Psychological, Intellectual, Social, and Moral Issues. Garland, New York, pp. 21–45.Google Scholar
  52. Yamamato, K. (1968). The College Student and His Culture: An Analysis. Houghton Mifflin, New York.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Loyola College in MarylandBaltimore

Personalised recommendations