Adolescent Well-Being and Religiosity: A Theoretical Integration & Visualization

The adolescent quest for autonomy requires the identity seeking process of sifting and sorting expectations, values, and beliefs. For many adolescents, life satisfaction is compromised by significant life events and daily hassles that result in feelings of rejection, isolation, inadequacy, and hopelessness. As one of the key identity commitments of adolescent development, religiosity and spirituality are likely to be explored and evaluated. As we come to understand the relationship, both adaptive and maladaptive, of religion and the identity seeking process, relational others are better prepared to nurture pro-social connectedness, foster hope, develop resilience, and support positive wellbeing throughout the identity formative years.