title: Finding myself: a theory on the maturation of spirituality and its influence on behavior during late adolescence.
abstract: This study employed a grounded theory research design to develop a theoretical model focused on the maturation of spirituality and its influence on behavior during late adolescence. Quantitative research studies have linked spirituality with decreased health-risk behaviors and increased health-promotion behaviors during late adolescence. Qualitative, theoretical data is proposed to discover the underlying reasons this relationship exists and increase the ability to apply this knowledge to practice. Twenty-one adolescents, age 16-21 years, were e-mail interviewed and transcripts analyzed using a conceptual lens of Blumer's symbolic interactionism. From this analysis, a theoretical model emerged with the core concept, finding myself that represents 5 core process concepts. Implications of this study illustrate that late adolescents are aware of their personal spiritual maturation as well as its influence on behavior. In addition, a distinction between the generic concept of spirituality, personal spirituality, and religion emerged.
authors.affiliation: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Parish, Madrid, Spain. masondeanna@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Deanna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D029181:Spirituality; D013561:Symbolism; D055815:Young Adult