Psychological efficacy of religiosity in late adolescence.

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship berween frequency of church attendance, perhaps the most commonly used social index of religious fervor, and ocher dimensions of religiosity in late adolescence. Since the spiritual efficacy of religious ritual might be assessed empirically via some measure of humane-benevolent deeds, the relation of frequency of church atrendance and magnitude of altruistic-humane activity was emphasized. To assess the dimensions of religiosity, an expanded form of Ligon's Religious Participation Scale (3) was administered to 161 introductory psychology students. Correlations between frequency of church attendance and other dimensions of religiosiry were: frequency of praying (.363), extent of reading religious literamre (.439), longevity of Sunday school attendance (.378), and indices of altruistic-benevolent deeds (.465). These rs (p = .001) should not be accepted prematurely as a corroboration of the efficacy of church attendance in producing moral-humane integrity. Computation of mean scores indicated that the average S was attending public church services three times monthly but infrequently (less than once monthly) performing alrruisric deeds as a function of his religious convictions. Therefore, although a significant T was obtained between measures of church attendance and humane-beneficent concern, scores were consistently lower for the latter variable. The obtained rs plus the low level of humane-altruistic activity suggest that church attendance may have limited spiritual efficacy. In many instances church attendance may provide more social-psycholog~cal reinforcement than spiritual stimulation. Attending church in many settings is a bas~c avenue of manifesting one's moral fiber to the community and thus maintaining social and business status. Ic also affords opportunities to cultivate friendships, manifest skills (such as singing. playing an instrument, presenting a discourse, etc.) and exhibit material affluence. Although perhaps nor consciously recognized, one's basic incentive for church atrendance may be social approval rather than spirirual edification.