Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University, 1-1-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8524, Japan.
Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
J Youth Adolesc. 2019 Apr;48(4):668-679. doi: 10.1007/s10964-018-0920-8. Epub 2018 Sep 5.
Youth encounter issues of religion in the process of identity formation. However, most prior studies have focused on Christian youth in Western counties. This study examined the relationship between identity formation and religious beliefs in the Eastern national context where Buddhism and non-institutional folk religions are prevalent. Participants were 969 Japanese youth (51.3% female; M = 20.1). Both literal and symbolic religious beliefs were included and both a variable- and person-oriented approach were used based on the three-factor identity model. The results from the variable-oriented approach (i.e., identity processes) demonstrated that identity commitment was positively associated with literal religious beliefs, whereas reconsideration of commitment was positively associated with both literal and symbolic religious beliefs. Findings from the person-oriented approach (i.e., identity statuses) confirmed these results. Overall, this study highlights the importance of religious beliefs in the process of identity formation among youth in an Eastern national context.
青少年在身份形成过程中会遇到宗教问题。然而，大多数先前的研究都集中在西方基督教青年身上。本研究考察了在佛教和非制度化民间宗教盛行的东方国家背景下，身份形成与宗教信仰之间的关系。参与者为 969 名日本青少年（51.3%为女性；M=20.1）。本研究既包含了字面宗教信仰，也包含了象征宗教信仰，同时基于三因素身份模型采用了变量和个体导向的方法。变量导向方法（即身份过程）的结果表明，身份承诺与字面宗教信仰呈正相关，而对承诺的重新考虑则与字面宗教信仰和象征宗教信仰都呈正相关。个体导向方法（即身份状态）的研究结果证实了这些结果。总的来说，这项研究强调了在东方国家背景下，宗教信仰在青少年身份形成过程中的重要性。
