Religious Involvement among Unmarried Adolescent Mothers: A Source of Emotional Support?

Abstract

Distress in unmarried mothers is related to conflict between religious norms and behavior particularly when cohabitation is involved. There is a significant increase in distress scores for those attending religious services or in contact with fellow participants in the religious community. Bivariate analysis indicated only one significant relationship between any background variable and religious factors; this variable was the greater likelihood of having grown up in a 2 parent family. Background variables pertained to socioeconomic aspects of the adolescents family of origin and her marital status. Religious factors were not directly associated with social sport in terms of parents bonds or perception of support from the family. Previous findings do show an association between social support and depression but the bivariate results showed no significant relationship between any background variables and depression (CES-D) scores. There was no evidence of a statistically significant relationship between cohabitation and psychological distress alone. Higher depression levels were found among Catholics of whom 75% attended services compared to only about 50% of Protestants and 20% with no faith. Nonprotestants attending services also increased their depression scores by 70.7 points but whether or not Protestants attended services showed no effect on depression scores. Longitudinal data were obtained for bivariate and multivariate models from a study of 260 pregnant adolescents living in Southwestern Ontario Canadabetween 1984 and 1986. The sample included 22% who were <16 years of age and an average age of 17.6 years. About 33% were married or living with a partner. Almost 80% reported a religious faith. CES-D scores were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale of Radloff. Higher scores indicated greater depression. Social support was measured by Parkers Parental Bonding Instrument and by the Provisions of Social Relations Scale of Turner et al. Religious preference attendance and religiosity were measured. The aim was to examine the emotional consequences for unmarried women having a child while involved with traditional religious organizations.