The perceived relationship between life events and religiosity among individuals raised in a Mormon community

Abstract

This research explored the perceived relationship between some life events and religiosity among people raised by at least one Mormon parent in a Mormon community. It aimed to answer the following questions: what kinds of life events increase individuals’ perceived level of religiosity and what kinds of life events decrease or simply keep it unchanged? Based on a qualitative survey of some undergraduate students in Utah, asking them to list three most significant positive life events and three negative life events, and how these life events affect their religious level, this research found that positive life events are more likely than negative life events to increase individuals’ level of religiosity. Nevertheless, in contrast to other research findings, negative life events increased, rather than decreased, respondents’ religiosity. Other factors, possibly affecting the impacts, including the types and severity of events, whether the events were finished or ongoing, and respondents’ religious level before the events, were also examined.