Children and Adolescents in Socio-Cultural Environments: Towards a Spiritual Social Capital Theory

Authors

  • Sondra SeungJa Doe

Abstract

The purposes of this paper are to examine key concepts relating to child and adolescent spirituality and to build a theoretical foundation for moving toward a theory of spiritual social capital. In order to better understand the impacts of spirituality on individuals' sense of well-being and on positive social outcomes, the concept of spiritual social capital needs to be explored by examining its relevance to human interactions, networks, and relationships formed in diverse socio-cultural environments in which children and adolescents grow up. This article ties the concept of social capital to the spiritual aspect of human development in order to present a conceptual framework for developing a Spiritual Social Capital Theory that may be applicable to cross-cultural studies of child and adolescent spirituality. Hypotheses are suggested for testing in future empirical research about how spiritual social capital as an intangible social asset is formed and processed for the benefits of young people and the society as a whole.

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Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2010): Special Issue on Spirituality and Positive Youth Development

Section

Articles

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