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Spirituality/religion – and even the lack thereof – are integral elements of the human condition. Clinicians trained in child and adolescent mental health are in a unique position to understand religious and spiritual aspects of developmental, biological, psychological, sociological and family processes that inform psychopathology, multiple treatment modalities, coping and resiliency. Evidence-based studies of specific methods for integrating spirituality/religion into child and adolescent treatment are less robust than for adult patients, but spiritually sensitive therapy offers hope and healing for children, as it does for adults. Family therapy is also becoming a preferred treatment modality to address religious and spiritual concerns in multifaith, or conservative, families of diverse faith traditions, religious minorities, and with religious and spiritual issues arising with LGBT+ youth. All clinicians working with children and adolescents can benefit from understanding the role of spirituality in their lives and those of their families.
This Element provides a comprehensive yet concise account of scientific research on children's religious and spiritual (RS) development. After providing a historical sketch of definitional issues in the science of RS, the first section reviews basic descriptive information on children's RS development as well as wholistic theoretical models and measures of children's RS development. The second section covers evidence about links of child and parental RS to children's psychosocial adjustment, and highlights the need for more research that discriminates specific positive and negative manifestations of RS for children's development. The third section summarizes evidence about the robust influence of parents on their children's RS development and parents' perceptions of their role in this process. The fourth section focuses on cognitive-developmental research on children's cognitions about God/deities and prayer. The Element concludes with a synopsis of key themes and challenges that researchers face to advance the science of children's RS development.
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