Socialization of religious beliefs

The authors applied Goodnow's 1992 two-step model of intergeneration agreem ent to parental socialization of religious beliefs. Young adults (18-25 yea rs) completed questionnaires on their religious beliefs and their perceptio ns of their parents' beliefs, their parents' child-rearing goals and behavi ors, and their relationships with their parents. Parents of the young adult s answered questions about their own religious beliefs and their childreari ng goals and practices. The relationship between parents' beliefs and young adults' beliefs was mediated by young adults perceptions of their parents' beliefs. Accuracy of young adults' perceptions of parents' beliefs was rel ated to the degree to which parents' wanted their children to adopt their f aith, modeled engagement in religious activities, and used multiple approac hes to encourage the development of their childrens faith. Young adults' be liefs were a function of parents beliefs, accuracy of their perceptions of parents' beliefs, and desire to share parents' beliefs.