Social anxiety, social comparison, self-consciousness, and deconversion in adolescents: a path analysis approach

Adolescence is a time of biological, psychological, and social changes during which youth may undergo religious/spiritual (r/s) transformations. Previous studies on adolescents' r/s transformations have focused on factors that predict involvement in or converting to a religion. Deconversion, which is going from being religious to leaving religion, is an instance of r/s transformation just as much as turning towards religion is. The present study analysed whether social variables - social anxiety and social comparison orientation - can be related to adolescent deconversion processes. Two alternative path models were examined. The study included 550 Polish adolescents (60.7% female), with the majority declaring a Catholic religion. The age of the respondents was from 14 to 18 years (M = 16.32, SD = 1.22). The Adolescent Deconversion Scale, the Retrospective Analysis of Religiosity, the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure, and the Self-Consciousness Scale were used. The results showed that social anxiety is the main predictor of social comparison, and the relationship between social comparison and deconversion is mediated by private self-consciousness. Thus, social comparison emerging from social anxiety has the psychological potential to predict higher deconversion processes among adolescents.

Automated summary

Adolescence is a crucial period during which youth experience various changes, including religious or spiritual transformations. This study investigates the correlation between social variables, such as social anxiety and social comparison orientation, and adolescent deconversion processes. The results suggest that social anxiety is a significant predictor of social comparison, and the relationship between social comparison and deconversion is mediated by private self-consciousness. The findings highlight the potential psychological influence of social anxiety on adolescent deconversion.