Personal Rituals in Adolescence: Their Role in Emotion Regulation and Identity Formation

Demmrich, Sarah; Wolfradt, Uwe

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

This study examines the meaning of personal rituals for the adolescent identity development and emotion regulation. Both are ritual functions and can be characterized as adolescent developmental tasks. However, there is no consistent pattern in previous research to explain the processes for how identity is formed and emotions are regulated during the performance of personal rituals. For this reason, a questionnaire study among 410 (182 male) adolescents (age: M = 15.06, SD = .61) was carried out. The questionnaire used the Berzonsky Identity Style Inventory and various measures to assess different experiences during the ritual (i.e. mood, emotion regulation, reality-transforming experiences). After separating spiritual from non-spiritual rituals, the results showed that spiritual rituals were used as a means for emotion regulation. Furthermore, self-reflection was closely related to the information-oriented identity style. The findings are discussed against the background of the impact of spiritual practices for emotional and identity development in adolescence.

Details about the publication

JournalJournal of Empirical Theology
Volume31
Issue2
Page range217-238
StatusPublished
Release year2018
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
DOI10.1163/15709256-12341373
Link to the full texthttps://brill.com/abstract/journals/jet/31/2/article-p217_4.xml
KeywordsPersonal ritual; Spirituality; Developmental tasks; Identity style; Emotion regulation

Authors from the University of Münster

Demmrich (verh. Kaboğan), Sarah
Professorship of Sociology of Religion (Prof. Pollack)
Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics"
Institute of Sociology (IfS)