ERIC Number: EJ1167762
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Religion and Spirituality in the Association between Hope and Anxiety in a Sample of Latino Youth
DiPierro, Moneika; Fite, Paula J.; Johnson-Motoyama, Michelle
Child & Youth Care Forum, v47 n1 p101-114 Feb 2018
Background: Latino adolescents are a subpopulation of youth who are disproportionately at risk for experiencing low levels of hope, which is linked to high levels of anxiety. However, factors such as religion/spirituality (i.e., identifying as a spiritual/religious person), that may buffer this association are not yet clear. Religion/spirituality may serve as a protective factor in this link by fostering positive coping. Objective: The current study examined the moderating role of religion/spirituality the link between hope and anxiety in a sample of Latino youth. Religion/spirituality combined with high levels of hope was hypothesized to be associated with the lowest levels of anxiety. Methods: 134 Latino adolescents (83.5% Mexican heritage) attending a charter high school in a large Midwestern city (45.5% Male, M = 16.14 years, SD = 1.31) completed a survey that included items measuring religiosity/spirituality, beliefs around goal setting, and self-reported anxiety symptoms. Results: A link between hope and anxiety was evident, with higher levels of hope associated with lower levels of anxiety. However, religion/spirituality moderated the association between hope and anxiety. Simple slope plots revealed that a negative association between hope and anxiety was only evident in the presence of religion/spirituality. Hope was unrelated to anxiety in the absence of religion/spirituality. Conclusions: Findings did not support a buffering effect of religion/spirituality. Religious/spiritual coping may strengthen the link between high levels of hope and low anxiety levels in this sample.
Descriptors: Hispanic American Students, Adolescents, At Risk Persons, Religious Factors, Religion, Coping, Anxiety, Psychological Patterns, Resilience (Psychology), Charter Schools, High School Students, Student Surveys, Goal Orientation, Beliefs, Correlation
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2189
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A