The Effect of Religiosity in Reduction of Delinquency among the Youth

The study  attempts to answer two basic  questions. Firstly, whether  religiosity  is  efficient  in  reducing  delinquent   behavior   and , secondly, if the answer is yes , how much is its effect? The samples was divided into common people and delinquent youth in prison. The scholars like Durkheim, Weber, Stark, Glock and those assertions regarding delinquency as Merton, Hirschi learning theory including Sutherland differential association, Matza youth delinquency were utilized. The most important hypotheses proposed in the research are the effects of religiosity and four dimensions as belief, consequence, rituals and experience which help to reduce delinquent behavior. The method applied is survey research. Observed results of the non-delinquent youths in ritual variable bear the highest correlation with the dependent variable. Only ritual dimension influenced directly on reducing delinquency (-0.39).The other dimensions, that is, religiosity, consequence, and experience had indirect effect on delinquency. The test used in the study are regression, path analysis and  T-test.   Observed results show that the two independent variables, religious consequence (-0.35) and religious rituals (-0.36) have direct impact on the dependent variable, namely, delinquency. The other variables belief and experience had indirect influence on delinquency. All hypotheses in the research were proved .The findings assert that the more individuals believe in God and the more they perform religious injunctions, therefore, there will be a considerable reduction in delinquency.