This study examined whether adolescents’ perceptions of peer secularism, social comparison orientation, and the centrality of religion predict deconversion over time. Data were collected from Polish adolescents (N = 268) across three waves over 12 months. Participants were between 13 and 16 years of age (M = 14.51, SD = 0.79). Perceived peer secularism, social comparison orientation, and the centrality of religion were assessed at baseline (T1), whereas deconversion was measured at T1, six months later (T2), and twelve months later (T3). Perceived peer secularism was positively associated with deconversion concurrently and prospectively at T2, but not at T3. Moderation analyses indicated a significant interaction effect only for deconversion at T2: the association between perceived peer secularism and deconversion was strongest among adolescents high in both social comparison orientation and the centrality of religion. The findings suggest that adolescents who are highly religious and strongly oriented toward social comparison may be particularly sensitive to secular peer environments. Overall, the results underscore the importance of considering the interplay between individual dispositions and social context in understanding deconversion processes during adolescence in increasingly secular societies.
Grupa et al. (Wed,) studied this question.