Orthodox Catechism affects gender differences in adolescents' needs for affiliation and achievement altering their sense of purpose in life
Abstract
Studies conducted among Catholics and Protestants showed higher levels of prayer and religious experience among women compared to men, and suggested that these gender differences may be a reflection of differences in personality and socialization. However, the impact of orthodox religion on adolescents’ psychological and social well-being remains unknown.
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the Orthodox religious studies (Orthodox Catechism) on gender differences in adolescents' needs for affiliation and achievement affecting their attitudes about purpose in life.
We were first to show that Orthodox Catechism affects adolescents’ needs for affiliative and achievement motivation in gender dependant manner. Orthodox Catechism enhances competition motive of male adolescents, has a significant influence on the development of emotional support and achievement of the goal as a source of pleasure of female adolescents affecting gender differences in adolescents’ sense of purpose in life.
In conclusion, our findings emphasize the impact of Orthodox Catechism on the expression of psycho-emotional characteristics of adolescents demonstrating that orthodox religion has a positive influence on adolescents' needs for affiliation and achievement affecting their attitudes about purpose in life.
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