Abstract

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Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Sections

1. INTRODUCTION

• Existing Research Points to Differences in Religious Involvement  by Income
• Limited Research on Religiosity in the Low-Income Population
• Closing the Knowledge Gap for the Low-Income Population
• Definitions Used in this Report
• Methodological Considerations in the Religiosity Literature
  • Reverse Causality
  • Selection Bias
  • Omitted Variable Bias
• Potential Pathways of the Effect of Religiosity
  • Direct Effect of Organizational Religiosity on Outcomes
  • Direct Effect of Individual Religiosity on Outcomes
  • Indirect (or Mediating) Effect of Individual Religiosity on Outcomes
  • Indirect (or Mediating) Effect of Organizational Religiosity on Outcomes
  • Effect of Family-Level and Community-Level Religiosity on Outcomes
  • Moderating Effect of Religiosity on Outcomes
• Methods Used for the Literature Review
  • The Search Phase
  • Supplemental Search and Exclusions
  • The Sifting Phase
  • The Review Phase
• Organization of this Report
• Introduction References

2. MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIPS

• Overview
• Potential Pathways Affecting Family Relationships
• Data, Methods, and Measures
• Findings for the General Population
  • Meta-analysis
  • Effect of Religion and Religiosity on Marriage Outcomes
• Studies Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Longitudinal Data Sources
  • Single Item Measurement
  • Research Questions Guiding Empirical Studies
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
• Research Gaps
• New Research
• Marriage References
• Low-Income Marriage References

3. PARENTING

• Overview
• Data, Methods, and Measures
• Summary of Research Findings for the General Population
• Summary of Research Studies Specific to the Low-Income Population
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Findings about Religiosity and Parenting Outcomes
  • Parental Resources
  • Religious Beliefs and Parenting Practices
• Research Gaps
  • Lessons from Fragile Families
• New Research
• Parenting References
• Low-Income Parenting References

4. YOUTH OUTCOMES

• Overview
• Potential Pathways Affecting Youth Outcomes
• Data, Methods, and Measures
  • Religiosity Measures Used in Youth-Focused Research
  • National Study of Youth and Religion
  • Methodological and Measurement Innovations
• Findings for the General Population
  • National Study of Youth and Religion Findings
  • Early Childhood Findings
• Studies Specific to Low-Income Populations
  • Religiosity Measurement
  • Exploring Direct and Moderating Effects
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
• Research Gaps
• New Research
• Youth References
• Low-Income Youth References

5. RELIGIOSITY AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OUTCOMES

• Overview
• Potential Pathways Affecting Health
  • Individual Beliefs and Practices
  • Organizational Participation
  • Health Practitioner Perspectives
• Data, Methods, and Measures
  • Limited National Data Collection
• Findings for the General Population
• Studies Specific to Low-Income Populations
  • Cross-Sectional Data Sources
  • Diverse Study Populations
  • Multi-Item Measurement
  • Mediating versus Control Variables
  • Statistical Techniques and Selection Issues
  • Mental Health, Physical Health, and Health Services Outcomes
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Depression
  • General Mental Health
  • Other Mental Health Outcomes
  • Qualitative Research
  • Complexity of Findings
  • Community Religiosity
  • Cancer Screening
  • Cancer Screening Educational Interventions
  • Reproductive Health
  • Qualitative Research
• Research Gaps
• New Research
• Health References
• Low-Income Health References

6. SUBSTANCE USE

• Overview
• Potential Pathways Affecting Substance Use
  • Direct Effects
  • Indirect Effects—Psychological Domain
  • Indirect Effects—Peer and Community
• Data, Methods, and Measures
  • Cross-Sectional Research
  • Limited Use of National Data
• Findings for the General Population
• Studies Specific to Low-Income Populations
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Research Gaps
  • New Research
• Substance Abuse References
• Low-Income Substance Abuse References

7. CRIME AND VIOLENCE

• Overview
• Potential Pathways Affecting Crime and Violent Behavior
• Data, Methods, and Measures
• Findings for the General Population
  • Systematic Reviews of the Religiosity and Delinquency Literature
• Studies Specific to Low-Income Populations
  • Single-Item Measurement
  • Outcomes of Interest
  • Statistical Techniques
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Findings for Youths
  • Findings for Adults
• Research Gaps
• New Research
• Crime References
• Low-Income Crime References

8. CONCLUSION

• Data Sources and Methods Used in Religiosity Research Targeting the Low-Income Population
  • Data Sources
  • Methods Used in Low-Income Studies
• Findings Specific to the Low-Income Population
  • Common Themes across Outcomes
• Research Gaps and Next Steps
  • Research Gaps
  • Next Steps

Tables

• Table 1-1. Total Number of Studies Included in the Literature Review, by Topic Area
• Table 2-1. Relationship between Religious Denomination and Marriage-Related Outcomes in the Low-Income Population
• Table 2-3. Effect of Frequent Church Attendance and Marriage-Related Outcomes in the Low-Income Population, Controlling for Potential Mediating Variables
• Table 2-4. New Research Studies
• Table 3-1. General Findings about Religiosity and Parenting Outcomes
• Table 3-2. Religiosity and Parental Resources
• Table 3-3. Religious Beliefs and Parenting Practices
• Table 3-4. Lessons from the Fragile Families Studies
• Table 4-1. Findings for General Youth Population about Religiosity and Youth Behavioral Outcomes(Smith & Denton, 2005)
• Table 4-2. Findings for General Youth Population about Potential Pathways Of Relationships between Religiosity and Youth Behavioral Outcomes (Smith & Denton, 2005)
• Table 4-3. Summary of Findings: Religiosity and Behavioral Outcomes (Main Effects)
• Table 5-1. Summary of Religiosity and Mental Health Findings in the Low-Income Population
• Table 5-2. Summary of Religiosity and Physical Health in the Low-Income Population
• Table 5-3. Summary of Religiosity and Cancer Screening and Reproductive Health Findings in the Low-Income Population
• Table 6-1. Associations between Religiosity and Substance Use Outcomes
• Table 6-2. Effects of the Importance of Religiosity on Drug Treatment
• Table 6-3. Examples of New Research Studies
• Table 7-1. Relationship between Church Attendance and Crime-Related Outcomes in the Low-Income Population
• Table 7-2. Relationship between Perceived Closeness to God and Church Members and Crime-Related Outcomes in the Low-Income Population
• Table 8-1. Summary of Religiosity Findings for the Low-Income Population: Number of Research Studies, Data Sets, and Research Methods

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Last updated:  07/16/2009