Socialization and Religiosity: A Cross-National Analysis of Catholic Adolescents

Within a brief synthesis of child psychology and sociological literature, this paper relates dimensions of religiosity (belief, experience, knowledge, and practice) to adolescents' perception of the control and support received from parents. Purposive samples were chosen from male Catholic schools in New York, St. Paul, San Juan, and Merida. Except for the Merida sample and the knowledge dimension, the apriori hypothesis that adolescents perceiving a high (low) degree of control and support score highest (lowest) on religiosity is moderately verified, mainly because of a positive relationship between support and religiosity, although control is noticeably related in the San Juan sample. Variations between Anglo and Latin samples are incipiently explained by reasons for religious behavior: Anglos attend churck because of parental expectations, whereas Latins give self reasons. For the Anglo samples, the study demonstrates the usefulness of socialization variables irt understanding religiosity, and the differences across samples point to the importance of reasons for religious behavior.