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Religion, networks, and neighborliness: The impact of religious social networks on civic engagement

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  • Lewis, Valerie A.
  • MacGregor, Carol Ann
  • Putnam, Robert David

Abstract

A substantial literature has found that religiosity is positively related to individuals’ civic engagement and informal helping behavior. Concurrently, social networks as sources of information and encouragement have been suggested as the mechanism underlying phenomena including successful job searches, improved health and greater subjective well-being. In this paper we use data from the Portraits of American Life Study (PALS) to examine whether religiously based social networks explain the well-established relationship between religion and civic engagement. We test potential mechanisms including beliefs, affiliation, and social networks, and we find that having a strong network of religious friends explains the effect of church attendance for several civic and neighborly outcomes. We suggest this phenomenon may exist in other, non-religious, spheres that also produce strong friendship networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Lewis, Valerie A. & MacGregor, Carol Ann & Putnam, Robert David, 2013. "Religion, networks, and neighborliness: The impact of religious social networks on civic engagement," Scholarly Articles 13323332, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:hrv:hksfac:13323332
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    Cited by:

    1. Atif Ikram Butt, 2014. "A Theoretical Framework for Engaging with Religion in Development Projects," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 30(3), pages 323-341, September.
    2. Zhu, Chen & Shen, Jim Huangnan & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Liu, Shouying, 2022. "Does religion belief matter to self-employment of rural elderly? Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Leah Drakeford & Vanessa Parks & Tim Slack & Rajeev Ramchand & Melissa Finucane & Matthew R. Lee, 2020. "Oil Spill Disruption and Problem Drinking: Assessing the Impact of Religious Context among Gulf Coast Residents," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 39(1), pages 119-146, February.
    4. Luke Galen & Michael Sharp & Alison McNulty, 2015. "Nonreligious Group Factors Versus Religious Belief in the Prediction of Prosociality," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(2), pages 411-432, June.
    5. Miao, Shuchao & Chi, Jing & Liao, Jing & Qian, Long, 2021. "How does religious belief promote farmer entrepreneurship in rural China?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 95-104.

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