Spirituality and meaning enhance kids' lives, not necessarily religion

LiveScience - Spirituality, Not Religion, Makes Kids Happy

In two separate studies, kids in late childhood, early teenagers, and teenagers with a chronic illness all had an association between greater happiness and 'spirituality', which was vaguely defined. 'Spirituality' is defined in one study as 'having meaning and value' in one's life and having 'quality and depth' in interpersonal relationships. [Whether this is spirituality or just good living is a tough question.] The surprising aspect of the study was that religious practice was not associated with greater happiness, though religion might be associated with being well-adjusted or well-behaved kids. In a second study done on teens with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the association between 'spirituality' (here considered a sense of meaning/purpose in life or a connection to the divine) and happiness was greater than among healthy peers, perhaps suggesting that it plays a role in coping.