Teachers and the religious socialization of adolescents: Facilitation of meaningful religious identity formation processes

Abstract This study investigated the effects of religious education on student religious identity over and above parent religiosity by examining student perceptions of two aspects of teacher functioning: teacher caring and teacher as role-model. We posited that effects of these variables on students...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of adolescence (London, England.) England.), 2014-02, Vol.37 (2), p.205-214
Main Authors: Cohen-Malayev, Maya, Schachter, Elli P, Rich, Yisrael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Biological and medical sciences
Developmental psychology
Education
Faculty
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Identity
Identity agents
Israel
Judaism
Male
Meaningful studies
Parents
Pediatrics
Perceptions
Personal Autonomy
Psychological Theory
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Religiosity
Religious education
Religious identity
Schools
Self determination theory
Social Identification
Socialization
Student Teacher Relationship
Students
Teachers
Teenagers
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Summary:Abstract This study investigated the effects of religious education on student religious identity over and above parent religiosity by examining student perceptions of two aspects of teacher functioning: teacher caring and teacher as role-model. We posited that effects of these variables on students' religious identity are mediated by student perceptions that the school provides a non-alienating religious atmosphere and meaningful religious studies. Participants were 2691 male and female students (grades 9–12) in 152 classes of 25 schools from the Jewish public-religious sector in Israel. Results indicate that in addition to their parents' religiosity, adolescents' perceptions of their teachers as role models and their religious studies as meaningful are important variables affecting their religious identity. Moreover, this research suggests that religious identity formation processes flourish in an educational environment which students perceive as accommodating religious exploration.
ISSN:0140-1971
1095-9254
DOI:10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.12.004