What is it about?
This study examines how two facets of religious identity, centrality and private regard, influence well-being and purpose over time in Muslim American adolescents. Religious identity centrality, or the extent to which religion is a core part of who one is, predicted greater well-being and purpose and less depression. Private regard, or how positively one feels about being Muslim, also predicted positive outcomes, but religious identity centrality was a stronger indicator.
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Why is it important?
This research is a deliberate move away from previous work that over-emphasized Muslim religious identity as a risk factor for radicalization and/or discrimination. Instead, our findings indicate that religious identity is a strength for Muslim American adolescents, contributing to their sense of purpose in life and overall well-being. Based on this, parents, teachers, and religious leaders of Muslim American adolescents should be uplifted and should encourage their youth to embrace their religious identities as core parts of who they are.
Perspectives
It was my delight to collaborate with such excellent minds to make this project a reality. I hope that this can be a helpful building block for researchers and community leaders whose goal is to upbuild Muslim American communities, and that future research endeavors consider religious identity multidimensionally and in a variety of demographic contexts.
Robert Ridder
Baylor University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Multidimensional religious identity predicts Muslim American adolescent mental health, well-being, and purpose., Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, December 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/rel0000540.
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