A BYU study shows religious teenagers are less likely to participate in delinquent activities than other teens.

The study counters previous reports that credit lower delinquency rates to highly religious communities and church attendance, rather than religious conviction.

"We found that religious conviction is the single most determining factor on delinquent activities," said Brent Top, associate dean of religious education at BYU.

Top and Bruce Chadwick, a professor of sociology, researched more than 10,000 teenage members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, Great Britain and four parts of the United States.

Their study began in 1991 and is ongoing. The latest research figures were a tabulation of Mexico City results.

The study delved into various aspects of religiosity, finding that the more LDS youths internalize the gospel, feel the spirit and develop a testimony, the less likely they will be to participate in immorality and delinquency.

"The more deep-seated and internalized the gospel is, the less likely the teen is to participate in delinquent activity," Top said.

Delinquent activities in this study consisted of 40 different behaviors. These behaviors were categorized into three different areas: victimless offenses, offenses against people and offenses against properties.

Research also indicated a direct link between certain family factors and parenting techniques to the religious development of youth, and therefore an indirect link to teenage delinquency, Top said.

"The worst possible thing a parent can do is to be their child's buddy, rather than be their parent," Top said.

Top plans to release a book aimed at LDS society that discusses the ten most important things parents can do when raising their children, as well as another book for the research community.

The quality of home life is an important factor in determining the development of a child's religious conviction, Top said.

Top revealed that the following three parenting factors affecting this conviction also minimize the negative influence of peers, contrary to many researchers' previous notions.

Family connectedness describes the closeness of parents to siblings. The study showed that a strong bond between them can provide children with confidence in their adolescent lives.

Family regulation showed that without proper restraints and parameters for behavior, youth will act impulsively.

Family autonomy encourages mutual respect, which, Top said, leads to self-confidence in children.

Research showed 63 percent of Utah Valley youth respondents said their mothers want to control everything they do. In contrast, only 60 percent of East Coast youth respondents made the same claim.

"One of the most important concepts is allowing your children to be their own person," Top said.

"Now I know that once in awhile, notwithstanding all the things you try to do, there is a rebellious child," Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote in the Ensign. "But keep at it. Do not ever give up! You have never lost as long as you try! Keep at it."



Copyright Brigham Young University 22 Jan 2003