Religiosidade e comportamento desviante na adolescência: dados de um estudo empírico

Abstract

Although the literature documents a negative relationship between religiosity and deviance, inconsistent findings from various studies justify more research on this issue. The present study examines the relationship between adolescent’s religiosity (religious belief and practices) and deviant behaviour. Analysis was based on self-reported responses to some questionnaires administered to above four hundred boys and girls (17-18 years) who attended the 4th grade in public schools of the municipality of Coimbra, during the first phase (1992/1993) of an ongoing longitudinal study. Data refer to the second evaluation phase of this study cohort and tend to confirm the idea that religion can work as a protective factor relatively to some deviant behaviors, including delinquency and substance consumption. Additionally, results show that the regularity of religious practices is associated with some decrease of this type of behavior. Particular attention was given to the analysis of the relations between variables and several implications were drawn from these findings in order to develop future research.