Religious education and adolescence: An examination of some psychosocial problems specific to the period

Adolescence is a period of biological, psychological, and social change. Certain problems may arise during this period, and education plays a crucial role in resolving these problems. Religious education, in particular, plays a fundamental role in minimizing the negative effects of these problems on young people. This study sought to determine the effect of religious education on coping with certain psychosocial problems encountered by adolescents. The research consists of two parts: a theoretical section and a field study. The theoretical part, which forms the theoretical framework of the research, includes a literature review, while the field research, which forms the second part of the study, uses the "interview method," which is frequently preferred in qualitative research. The interview method was conducted with 30 adolescents aged 14-18 studying at five secondary education institutions in Ağrı province during the 2023-2024 academic year. During the interview process, 20 open-ended questions were asked to the participants, in addition to personal information. The participants' answers were analyzed and evaluated using descriptive methods. The findings show that religious education and instruction contribute to adolescents' personality development and search for meaning; it also helps them cope with problems such as feelings of guilt and sinfulness, depression, anxiety, violence, addiction, and suicide attempts. However, the study also determined that adolescents experience religious questioning and doubt, have difficulty understanding certain topics in religious education classes, and use social media to learn about religion.