Research interest has been renewed in the impact of faith and religiosity in healing and health, and faith-based prevention programs are being initiated throughout the US. It is hypothesized that religion, religiosity, church attendance and participation in church activities are protective of adverse health effects and reduce high risk behaviors among youth. Conversely, lack of religiosity, having no religious preference, never or rarely attending church or engaging in church activities, and not seeking help with problems from ministers, priests or rabbis will increase the likelihood that youth will use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs (ATOD), and will report fair or poor mental and physical health and high rates of injury and disability. This study asks whether ATOD use, abuse and problems among high school students are associated with low religiosity and, in turn, with adverse mental and physical health outcomes. The study is based on data from a cross-sectional survey of approximately 59,000 high school students in 108 randomly selected Tennessee public and private schools in 12 Tennessee health department regions in 1995. Logistic regression techniques are used first to identify the correlates of ATOD use, particularly religious preference, religiosity, and participation in church activities, together with age, sex, race, rurality, school performance, and related variables; then these significant predictors were used to predict health and disability status among these students. The results expand our understanding of how to design and target faith-based programs for youth and elucidate what combination of factors appears to be protective of youth.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the relationship of religiosity, health status, and alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use among high school students 2. Identify key predictors of ATOD use related to religiosity and links to health outcomes 3. Assess the applicability of findings to development of community and faith-based ATOD prevention programs protective of youth
Keywords: Religion, Youth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.