Date of Award:

5-2019

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

Gretchen G. Peacock

Committee

Gretchen G. Peacock

Committee

Philip L. Barlow

Committee

Rick A. Cruz

Committee

Ginger Lockhart

Committee

Maryellen B. McClain Verdoes

Abstract

Parenting practices greatly influence child behavior. It is important to study the relationship between parenting practices and child behavior in specific religious contexts. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have not been extensively studied in the psychological literature despite there being a relatively large number of LDS individuals in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of religiosity on parenting practices and child behavior outcomes in an LDS sample. The influence of perfectionism on religiosity and parenting practices was also studied. The relationship between parents’ interpretation of the bible and their view on God’s involvement in their parenting was also examined.

The Qualtrics Online Sample Tool was used to recruit participants for this study. The 210 participants completed an online survey. The results indicated that a more literal interpretation of the bible was associated with a perception of increased involvement from God in one’s role as a parent and increased religiosity. The perception of increased involvement from God in one’s role as a parent was also associated with increased religiosity. Higher levels of parental religious beliefs and spiritual experiences had a positive impact on parenting practices and child behavior. However, religious behavior had a negative impact on parenting practices and child behavior. High levels of perfectionism were associated with more effective parenting practices in individuals high in religious belief and spiritual experiences while high levels of perfectionism led to less effective parenting practices in individuals high in religious behavior. Given the overall high levels of ineffective parenting practices and child disruptive behavior that were reported in the sample, encouraging LDS parents to attend parenting classes may be an appropriate recommendation.

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