Increased Bible Reading, Religious Beliefs, and Prosociality During College

Abstract

Religious self-socialization theory posits that chosen exposure to religion can impact future attitudes and behaviors via the internalization of religious messages, but emerging adults in the United States tend to decrease their participation in religious activities during college. Therefore, unique outcomes may arise for the few that maintain or increase religious activity. The present longitudinal study examines whether and how an increase in Bible reading during college impacts various religious and prosocial outcomes for a sample of 295 college students at a Christian university. On average, Bible reading frequency, closeness to God, and social altruism remained constant from first year to senior year, whereas Christian orthodoxy and civic engagement decreased. Multiple regression analyses revealed that an increase in Bible reading was associated with increases in Christian orthodoxy and closeness to God as indicators of religiosity as well as civic engagement and social altruism as indicators of prosociality. Reading the Bible more may help college students grow in their faith and their service to others.