This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (82) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Wallace, J. M. Articles by Forman, T. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wallace, J. M., Jr. Articles by Forman, T. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Religion's Role in Promoting Health and Reducing Risk Among American Youth

Department of Sociology; University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248; phone: (313) 763-5043; fax: (313) 936-0043 johnwall{at}umich.edu

Tyrone A. Forman, MA

Although past research has long documented religion's salutary impact on adult health-related behaviors and outcomes, relatively little research has examined the relationship between religion and adolescent health. This study uses large, nationally representative samples of high school seniors to examine the relationship between religion and behavioral predictors of adolescent morbidity and mortality. Relative to their peers, religious youth are less likely to engage in behaviors that compromise their health (e.g., carrying weapons, getting into fights, drinking and driving) and are more likely to behave in ways that enhance their health (e.g., proper nutrition, exercise, and rest). Multivariate analyses suggest that these relationships persist even after controlling for demographic factors, and trend analyses reveal that they have existed over time. Particularly important is the finding that religious seniors have been relatively unaffected by past and recent increases in marijuana use.

Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 25, No. 6, 721-741 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/109019819802500604


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. R. Williams Racial/Ethnic Variations in Women's Health: The Social Embeddedness of Health Am J Public Health, September 1, 2008; 98(Supplement_1): S38 - S47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Matyastik Baier and K. S. Wampler A Qualitative Study of Southern Baptist Mothers' and Their Daughters' Attitudes Toward Sexuality Journal of Adolescent Research, January 1, 2008; 23(1): 31 - 54. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. G. Ellison, J. A. Trinitapoli, K. L. Anderson, and B. R. Johnson Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence Violence Against Women, November 1, 2007; 13(11): 1094 - 1112. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. W. Edwards, V. E. Mumford, and R. Serra-Roldan A Positive Youth Development Model for Students Considered At-Risk School Psychology International, February 1, 2007; 28(1): 29 - 45. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. C. Kegler, R. F. Oman, S. K. Vesely, K. R. McLeroy, C. B. Aspy, S. Rodine, and L. Marshall Relationships Among Youth Assets and Neighborhood and Community Resources Health Educ Behav, June 1, 2005; 32(3): 380 - 397. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. L. Bowen-Reid and W. A. Rhodes Assessment of Marijuana Use and Psychosocial Behaviors at Two Historically Black Universities Journal of Black Psychology, November 1, 2003; 29(4): 429 - 444. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Wallace Jr., T. A. Forman, C. H. Caldwell, and D. S. Willis Religion and U.S. Secondary School Students: Current Patterns, Recent Trends, and Sociodemographic Correlates Youth Society, September 1, 2003; 35(1): 98 - 125. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. L. Idler, M. A. Musick, C. G. Ellison, L. K. George, N. Krause, M. G. Ory, K. I. Pargament, L. H. Powell, L. G. Underwood, and D. R. Williams Measuring Multiple Dimensions of Religion and Spirituality for Health Research: Conceptual Background and Findings from the 1998 General Social Survey Research on Aging, July 1, 2003; 25(4): 327 - 365. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Wertlieb Converging Trends in Family Research and Pediatrics: Recent Findings for the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on the Family Pediatrics, June 1, 2003; 111(6): 1572 - 1587. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Whooley, A. L. Boyd, J. M. Gardin, and D. R. Williams Religious Involvement and Cigarette Smoking in Young Adults: The CARDIA Study Arch Intern Med, July 22, 2002; 162(14): 1604 - 1610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Oman and C. E. Thoresen 'Does Religion Cause Health?': Differing Interpretations and Diverse Meanings J Health Psychol, July 1, 2002; 7(4): 365 - 380. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. R. Williams Racial/Ethnic Variations in Women's Health: The Social Embeddedness of Health Am J Public Health, April 1, 2002; 92(4): 588 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G. Ellison, R. A. Hummer, S. Cormier, and R. G. Rogers Religious Involvement and Mortality Risk among African American Adults Research on Aging, November 1, 2000; 22(6): 630 - 667. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. L. Barnes, G. A. Plotnikoff, K. Fox, and S. Pendleton Spirituality, Religion, and Pediatrics: Intersecting Worlds of Healing Pediatrics, October 1, 2000; 106(4): 899 - 908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Taylor, J. Mattis, and L. M. Chatters Subjective Religiosity among African Americans: A Synthesis of Findings from Five National Samples Journal of Black Psychology, November 1, 1999; 25(4): 524 - 543. [Abstract] [PDF]