“I am spiritual, but not religious”: Does one without the other protect against adolescent health-risk behaviour?

Klara Malinakova (), Jaroslava Kopcakova, Andrea Madarasova Geckova, Jitse P. Dijk, Jana Furstova, Michal Kalman, Peter Tavel and Sijmen A. Reijneveld
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Klara Malinakova: Palacky University Olomouc
Jaroslava Kopcakova: University of Pavol Jozef Safarik Kosice
Andrea Madarasova Geckova: Palacky University Olomouc
Jitse P. Dijk: Palacky University Olomouc
Jana Furstova: Palacky University Olomouc
Michal Kalman: Palacky University Olomouc
Peter Tavel: Palacky University Olomouc
Sijmen A. Reijneveld: University of Groningen

International Journal of Public Health, 2019, vol. 64, issue 1, No 15, 115-124

Abstract: Abstract Objectives Spirituality and religious attendance (RA) have been suggested to protect against adolescent health-risk behaviour (HRB). The aim of this study was to explore the interrelatedness of these two concepts in a secular environment. Methods A nationally representative sample (n = 4566, 14.4 ± 1.1 years, 48.8% boys) of adolescents participated in the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children cross-sectional study. RA, spirituality (modified version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale), tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and drug use and the prevalence of sexual intercourse were measured. Results RA and spirituality were associated with a lower chance of weekly smoking, with odds ratios (OR) 0.57 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36–0.88] for RA and 0.88 (0.80–0.97) for spirituality. Higher spirituality was also associated with a lower risk of weekly drinking [OR (95% CI) 0.91 (0.83–0.995)]. The multiplicative interaction of RA and spirituality was associated with less risky behaviour for four of five explored HRB. RA was not a significant mediator for the association of spirituality with HRB. Conclusions Our findings suggest that high spirituality only protects adolescents from HRB if combined with RA.

Keywords: Health-risk behaviour; Adolescence; Religious attendance; Spirituality; HBSC study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1116-4

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