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Religious Involvement and Its Association to Risk Behaviors among Older Youth in Foster Care
Author(s) -
Scott Lionel D.,
Munson Michelle R.,
McMillen J. Curtis,
Ollie Marcia T.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/s10464-006-9077-9
Subject(s) - odds , psychology , attendance , health psychology , foster care , ethnic group , church attendance , sexual abuse , clinical psychology , logistic regression , social psychology , public health , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , environmental health , religiosity , sociology , nursing , anthropology , economics , economic growth
This study examined religious involvement and its association to risk behaviors (sexual behavior, marijuana use, alcohol use, and cigarette use) among older youth in foster care ( N =383). Three dimensions of religious involvement were assessed—church or religious service attendance, religious practices, and religious beliefs. Findings showed that gender, ethnic group membership, sexual abuse history, and placement type were significantly associated with older foster care youth's religious involvement. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that religious service attendance was associated with reduced odds of youth's engagement in sexual behavior in the past 2 months and current use of cigarettes. In addition, greater religious beliefs were associated with a reduction in odds of youth's use of alcohol in the past 6 months and current use of cigarettes. The consideration of religious involvement as a positive influence and resource that may reduce unhealthy risk behaviors among older youth in foster care is discussed.