Upper Secondary Students’ Perspectives on the Role of School and Parents in Shaping Religious Attitudes
Keywords:
Student, School, Parents, Religious AttitudeAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to explore upper secondary school students’ perspectives on the role of school and parents in shaping their religious attitudes.
Metholodgy: The study adopted a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The research population consisted of upper secondary school students in Tehran, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews, which continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. A total of 10 students from grades 11 and 12 participated. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed following the six-phase thematic analysis framework proposed by Braun and Clarke.
Findings: Analysis of the data regarding the role of school resulted in the identification of 12 main themes and 25 subthemes, including the practical application of religious teachings in daily life, teachers’ modeling role, age-appropriate instruction, the religious and cultural climate of school, and peer influence. Concerning the role of parents, 6 main themes and 13 subthemes emerged, emphasizing the family’s explanatory role in religion, parental modeling of religious practice, providing a secure environment for informed religious choice, and challenges related to generational perceptual gaps.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that both school and family play significant roles in shaping students’ religious attitudes; however, the effectiveness of these roles depends on coordination, flexibility, and avoidance of coercive approaches. Constructive collaboration between school and family can foster the development of stable and internalized religious attitudes among adolescents.
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