ARTICLES
Religiosity and Substance Use and Abuse Among Adolescents in the National Comorbidity Survey

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ABSTRACT

Objective

To replicate previous findings among adults of an inverse association between religiosity and substance use among a nationally representative sample of adolescents.

Method

Subjects were 676 (328 female and 348 male) adolescents in the National Comorbidity Survey who were assessed for substance use and abuse with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Religiosity was assessed through affiliation with religious denomination and through response to 7 questions concerning belief and practice.

Results

Confirmatory factor analyses replicated in adolescents the 2 religiosity factors of personal devotion and personal conservatism previously identified by Kendler among adults, although the 2 factors were more highly correlated in adolescents than in adults. Personal devotion (a personal relationship with the Divine) and affiliation with more fundamentalist religious denominations were inversely associated with substance use and substance dependence or abuse across a range of substances (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, or any contraband drug). Personal conservatism (a personal commitment to teaching and living according to creed) was inversely associated with use of alcohol only.

Conclusion

Low levels of religiosity may be associated with adolescent onset of substance use and abuse.

Key Words

substance dependence
substance abuse
religion
adolescents
National Comorbidity Survey

Cited by (0)

The National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) data collection was supported by NIMH grant R01MH46376 with supplemental support from NIDA and the W.T. Grant Foundation (grant 90135190). Dr. Miller is supported in part by the W.T. Grant Faculty Scholars Award. The authors thank the reviewers, Dr. Ronald Kessler and Dr. Kenneth Kendler, for comments on a prior draft of this article; in particular, they thank Dr. Kessler for sharing data from the NCS.