Religious development from adolescence to early adulthood among Muslim and Christian youth in Germany: A person‐oriented approach

Religious decline, often observed among North American Christian youth, may not apply universally. We examined this and whether religiosity is associated with well‐being, risk behavior, cultural values, and acculturation among 4080 Muslim and Christian adolescents aged 15–22 in Germany. Utilizing seven waves from the CILS4EU project and a person‐oriented analytical approach, we identified different religious trajectories for Muslim (58% high, 31% low, 11% increasing), immigrant‐origin Christian (68% low, 32% medium), and non‐immigrant Christian (74% low, 17% decreasing, 9% medium) youth. High and medium trajectories were associated with greater well‐being, lower risk behavior, more conservative attitudes, and less sociocultural integration. To fully understand religious development, we must consider diverse national contexts and groups, employing long‐term perspectives and person‐centered analyses.