The article titled “Religious upbringing linked to better health and well-being during early adulthood” was published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on September 13, 2018. It discusses a study indicating that individuals who participated in spiritual practices during childhood and adolescence experienced improved health and well-being in early adulthood. The study found that regular attendance at religious services or daily prayer/meditation in youth was associated with greater life satisfaction and reduced likelihood of depressive symptoms, smoking, illicit drug use, and sexually transmitted infections in their 20s. The research was conducted by analysing data from the Nurses’ Health Study II and the Growing Up Today Study, involving over 5,000 participants followed for 8–14 years. The findings suggest that religious upbringing can positively influence health behaviours and mental health outcomes in early adulthood.
- Childhood Spirituality and Adult Health: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health research suggests that participating in spiritual practices in youth, like weekly religious services or daily prayer/meditation, may lead to improved health and well-being outcomes in early adulthood.
- Positive Health and Social Outcomes: Young adults who attended services weekly were 18% more likely to report happiness, 29% more likely to volunteer, and 33% less likely to use illicit drugs. Those who prayed or meditated daily were 16% more likely to be happy, 30% less likely to engage in early sexual activity, and 40% less likely to have an STI.
- Implications for Parenting: The study highlights that fostering regular spiritual habits in adolescence could protect against depression, substance abuse, and risky behaviours, promoting mental health, community engagement, and life satisfaction.
- Study Limitations: The sample was primarily white females from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, which may limit generalisability. Additionally, it didn’t factor in parental and peer influence on adolescent spirituality.
- Publication: Findings were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology on September 13, 2018.
Tags:ReligiousUpbringingHealthAndWellBeingEarlyAdulthoodMentalHealth PhysicalHealthSpiritualPractices YouthDevelopment PublicHealthResearchHarvardStudy
Themes: Childhood Spirituality, Health and Spirituality, Religious Attendance, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Positive Health Outcomes, Community and Connection, Faith and Action, Parenting and Spirituality, Health Protective Factors, Adolescent Development, Life Satisfaction, Resilience and Mental Toughness