Religion and Family Functioning in Low Income African American Families

Introduction The current study explores the association between religion and family functioning. Families in lower income brackets, especially those living in crowded, urban neighborhoods, are at higher risk for poverty and associated challenges, compared to their wealthier counterparts. African-American families in particular are at a higher risk for poverty in comparison to white families and face a number of stressors related to lack of financial stability, neighborhood violence, trauma, and resulting chaos in the home. Given the importance of household organization and supportive parenting to the wellbeing of adolescents, it is important to examine factors that may reduce stress among families living in urban poverty. One especially powerful protective factor among African American families is religiosity and religious participation. Thus, the current investigation explores the association between three dimensions of religiosity (spirituality, support from congregation and support from clergy) and both adolescent and caregiver outcomes related to family routine and parenting practices among a sample of low-income, African American, urban families. Method A series of stepwise regressions were conducted in order to determine which aspects of religion (support from congregation, support from leaders, and spirituality) where most closely related to frequency of household routines, parenting strategies, and adolescent outcomes. The sample consisted of 115 African American mother-adolescent (age 14 – 18) dyads. Families were recruited as part of a large scale study on the lives of African American families with adolescents. Adolescents and parents were interviewed individually by study staff. Findings Results indicate that higher levels of support from congregation leaders was associated with higher frequency of family routine, as well as higher levels of adolescent delinquency. Overall, the data indicate high levels of spirituality among African American caregivers. For caregivers’ report, higher levels of support from religious leaders were related to higher levels of household routines (b=.69, SE=.33, p<.05), and support from religious leaders contributed to 8% of the explained variability (F(1, 88)=8.42, p<.1). The results suggest that only support from religious leaders was associated with problem behaviors (b=.69, SE=.33, p<.05), such that adolescents whose caregivers reported higher levels of support also reported higher levels of problem behavior. Conclusions/Implications These results highlight the important roles that religion and the church play in the lives of African American parents and their children. Practitioners and prevention researchers should consider religion and the support associated with church communities and clergy members as viable resources for struggling parents and adolescents.