Personal Rituals in Adolescence: Their Role in Emotion Regulation and Identity Formation
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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. Therefore, 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.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
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| Abstract Views | 1544 | 414 | 42 |
| Full Text Views | 432 | 18 | 2 |
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Personal Rituals in Adolescence: Their Role in Emotion Regulation and Identity Formation
In: Journal of Empirical TheologySearch for other papers by Sarah Demmrich in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Uwe Wolfradt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
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. Therefore, 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.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1544 | 414 | 42 |
| Full Text Views | 432 | 18 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 692 | 39 | 4 |
