Change and stability in religious identity formation among high-school graduates undertaking religious mechina gap-year programs in Israel
Despite the importance of religion to identity formation, there has been little research on religious identity, resulting in a limited understanding of the development of religious identity, especially among strictly religious adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine religious identity form...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer
2023
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| In: |
Journal of Religious Education
Year: 2023, Volume: 71, Issue: 1, Pages: 19-32 |
| Further subjects: | B
Gap-year program
B Identity status B Identity formation changes B Religious identity formation |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Despite the importance of religion to identity formation, there has been little research on religious identity, resulting in a limited understanding of the development of religious identity, especially among strictly religious adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine religious identity formation changes during post-high school mechina programs to extend the literature on religious identity formation among strictly religious adolescents. This study was conducted at three institutions with mechina programs in Israel and included students from two academic years. We used the Religious Identity status (RISt) questionnaire to measure religious identity statuses among 135 mechina students at the beginning and end of the program. We found that religious identity formation is more progressive than regressive and for most participants, religious identity didn’t remain stable but changed. We also found a significant increase in achievement status, in contrast to the foreclosure status, with insignificant change. The MAMA (moratorium, achievement) model was the most prevalent religious identity formation process model among participants. This study’s findings indicate that religious identity formation is dynamic and mainly progressive. Post-high school religious programs should consider these findings to cater to religious identity formation dynamics. |
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| ISSN: | 2199-4625 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of Religious Education
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/s40839-022-00194-6 |