The Role of Parenting in Changes in Adolescent Religious/Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Well-Being: A Latent Transition Analysis

Adolescence is a period with increased religious and spiritual (R/S) exploration, which includes changes in levels of struggle and psychological well-being. Using two waves of longitudinal data from adolescents in the Western United States (Time 1: N = 1,689, M age = 16.2; Time 2: N = 1,232, M age = 18.1), we examined heterogeneity and transitions in profiles of R/S struggles (interpersonal, doubt, divine) and psychological well-being (purpose, anxiety, shame). Latent transition analysis identified four profiles in mid-adolescence – Low-Struggle, Undeterred, Emerging Explorers, and Crisis – and three profiles in late adolescence – Low-Struggle, Undeterred, and Crisis. Transitions most often moved toward the Undeterred profile, characterized by moderate struggle and high purpose, whereas Crisis membership was highly stable. Greater parental warmth predicted movement toward more adaptive profiles, whereas hostile and benign religious disagreements predicted remaining in Crisis. Findings demonstrate heterogeneity in adolescents’ religious experiences parental influences on transitions between profiles.