Childhood predictors of religious reading: a cross-national analysis in the Global Flourishing Study

Abstract

Abstract While the family environment, including parental religiosity, shapes children’s religious behaviors, evidence concerning factors influencing religious reading and listening (RR/L) in adulthood remains scarce. This study examines 13 early-life conditions within familial and economic contexts as potential predictors of adult RR/L. Nationally representative samples from 22 countries (N = 202,898) included in the first wave of the Global Flourishing Study were used. Multiple imputation, multivariate regression analyses, and random-effects meta-analyses were employed to evaluate associations between the childhood predictors and adult RR/L. Meta-analytical results show that early-life predictors, including religious service attendance, a positive relationship with one’s father, excellent self-assessed health, experience of abuse, and growing up as an outsider, as well as belonging to older cohorts and being female are associated with higher likelihood of adult RR/L, with religious service attendance being the strongest predictor. There was little evidence of associations with childhood financial status, immigration status, and mother-child relationship. Country-specific analyses revealed that race/ethnicity and religious affiliation also influence the RR/L likelihood, with Muslims and minority group members showing a higher probability compared to other groups. Given the rare examination of early-life determinants of RR/L, especially in cross-cultural contexts, this study provides valuable insights into the global distribution of early-life predictors of RR/L.