The Relationship Between Role Models in High School And College and the Religiosity and Spirituality of Emerging Adult Graduates of Jewish Modern Orthodox High Schools and College

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to better understand the relationship between role models in high school and college and their impact on the religiosity and spirituality of emerging adults. The sample consisted of 160 Jewish female and male participants, all of whom are graduates of a Jewish modern orthodox high school and college. It was hypothesized that relationships with role models from high school and college will serve as a predictor of both high and low levels of religiosity and spirituality in emerging adults. Linear regression analyses indicated that relationships between positive role models in high school positively impact the religiosity and spirituality of emerging adults. The analyses of the linear regression also indicated that while relationships between positive role models in college do predict spirituality in emerging adults, they do not predict religiosity in emerging adults. No relationship was found between negative sources of influence in high school or college and the religiosity and spirituality of emerging adults. Supplementary analyses, using linear regression and independent sample t-tests, indicated no differences based on the gender of either the role models or the participants. The results highlight the importance of positive role models in Jewish education in the transmission of religiosity and spirituality.