Abstract

This essay reviews the literature on the effects of religious commitment on adolescent behavior. While the body of research on the effects of religious commitment of adolescents on their overall lives is still relatively small, that literature indicates that religious commitment tends to be associated with higher educational outcomes and a lower incidence of illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, and premarital sex. Some are reluctant to acknowledge these effects, while others champion desirable qualities in adolescents, especially educational excellence and socially responsible behavior, without incorporating their true source--religious convictions. Many of the reasons for this reluctance are rooted in the general culture, which since the 1960s marginaltes religion in America, and seeks to exclude it from the public square. Yet, based on research findings, contemporary society would benefit from encouraging adolescent religious commitment.