A recent study found that adolescents and youths brought up in a religious or spiritual environment may be less susceptible to drug abuse and to depression. 

Researchers who worked on the study that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology said that youths who participated in religious services every week or prayed / meditated every day benefited from a wide range of positive results. 

The results of this study tally with those of a study published last month that found that youths whose parents placed importance on religion or spirituality were less at risk of committing suicide. 

The researchers found that when compared with others, youths who attended religious services regularly were 12 percent less likely to fall into depression, 33 percent less likely to abuse of drugs, 18 percent more likely to feel content and 87 percent more likely to forgive. 

Youths who prayed often were 40 percent less likely to catch a sexually transmitted disease, 39 percent more likely to do voluntary work in the community and 47 percent more likely to have a sense of mission and an aim in life. 

People who have had a good upbringing or who involve themselves in the community enjoy a number of health benefits. The results of the study could be partly explained by the fact that religion could fill the void that other youths seek to fill through vices. 

Gail Saltz, Professor of Psychiatry at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York said, among other things, that religion provides a community of persons that think along the same lines and this is important to both parents and children. 

This does not mean that parents should suddenly start encouraging their children to attend religious activities if they do not do so themselves. This strategy could lead the children to rebel.  In fact, Saltz warns parents not to send their children to religious functions they themselves avoided when they were young. 

A recent study found that adolescents and youths brought up in a religious or spiritual environment may be less susceptible to drug abuse and to depression. 

Researchers who worked on the study that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology said that youths who participated in religious services every week or prayed / meditated every day benefited from a wide range of positive results. 

The results of this study tally with those of a study published last month that found that youths whose parents placed importance on religion or spirituality were less at risk of committing suicide. 

The researchers found that when compared with others, youths who attended religious services regularly were 12 percent less likely to fall into depression, 33 percent less likely to abuse of drugs, 18 percent more likely to feel content and 87 percent more likely to forgive. 

Youths who prayed often were 40 percent less likely to catch a sexually transmitted disease, 39 percent more likely to do voluntary work in the community and 47 percent more likely to have a sense of mission and an aim in life. 

People who have had a good upbringing or who involve themselves in the community enjoy a number of health benefits. The results of the study could be partly explained by the fact that religion could fill the void that other youths seek to fill through vices. 

Gail Saltz, Professor of Psychiatry at the Presbyterian Hospital in New York said, among other things, that religion provides a community of persons that think along the same lines and this is important to both parents and children. 

This does not mean that parents should suddenly start encouraging their children to attend religious activities if they do not do so themselves. This strategy could lead the children to rebel.  In fact, Saltz warns parents not to send their children to religious functions they themselves avoided when they were young.