What Helps Muslim American Youth to Thrive? The Role of Maternal Promotion of Volitional Functioning and Religiosity in their Civic Engagement

The role of diverse parenting practices and religiosity in Muslim American youth’s positive adjustment is not well understood. Drawing on a strength-based approach, the present study examined the mediating role of multiple dimensions of religiosity (religious attitudes, practices, and struggles) in the association between maternal promotion of volitional functioning (PVF) and Muslim American adolescents’ civic engagement. Two-hundred and twenty-one Muslim adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds; 59% girls) participated in an online survey and reported on their perceptions of PVF, their religious attitudes, practices, struggles, and their civic engagement. Our results suggested that for adolescents who receive maternal support for acting upon and exploring their interests, religious practices by themselves might be an indicator of the internalization of religious virtues that promote civic behavior. These findings highlight the importance of how maternal support for autonomy can promote specific aspects of religiosity and facilitate Muslim adolescents’ positive development.