Youth Religiosity and Substance Use: A Meta-Analysis from 1995 to 2007

Abstract

In this meta-analysis, the magnitude of the protective effects of religiosity on youth involvement in substance use was investigated. Based on 22 studies in peer-reviewed journals published between 1995 and 2007, the average weighted mean correlation was Z_r = .16, significant regardless of the definitions of religiosity. The homogeneity test of variance showed consistent protective effects of religiosity on four types of substance use, namely, alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, and other illicit drugs.

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