Religious Kids Better Off: Hormones or Holy Spirit?

A study by Dartmouth Medical School suggests religious kids are more likely to be better off than their secular peers, worrying less and less likely to engage in risky behavior, based on their results from a research on brain-imaging last year. However, Christians offer an alternative reason why their lives and perspective on life are different than other teenagers.

Dartmouth medical experts conducted the study last year on brain-imaging, focusing on kids as the subjects. They concluded that religion or spirituality may influence young people's brain circuits, reducing their levels of the stress hormone cortisol, explaining why they worry less than those without religion. Personal devotion, the study suggests, is twice as likely to protect them from risky behavior as it would adults.

“Religion has a unique net effect on adolescents above and beyond factors like race, parental education and family income," says Brad Wilcox, a University of Virginia sociologist and panel member.

Risky and non-favorable behavior, according to the study, included smoking, drinking alcohol, being depressed, not wearing seat belts, and committing crimes.

Christian kids can easily affirm the results of the study not through their hormone levels but through their relationship with God.

“God isn't just a part of my life, He's the whole thing,'' said Kimbrey Pierce, a Columbia, Md., high school senior. "I like knowing He is making the best decisions for me. That way I don't worry too much."

Another suggestion offered by the study, which may be a more accurate explanation of the behavior of Christian kids, attributes the difference in attitude and behavior in religious compared to secular peers to “their direct personal relationship with the Divine”.

Wilcox insisted that because kids’ “brains are changing, their relations with family, friends and the opposite sex are changing, and they're beginning to figure out what their purpose in the world will be,” they “turn to God in the midst of momentous changes.”

A Christian youth minister in Florida relies on his Christian faith instead of science to explain why a resurgence of youth at his church has been turning to God.

"The driving force is the Holy Spirit," said Matthew Wilson to The Sun News. Wilson is a youth minister at The Christian Church in Myrtle Beach, where youth attendance at Wednesday night worship services averages 120.

He said that youth turn to God because “the more you give them the word of God, the more they want it."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.