Given that many major religions prescribe parent-benefitting norms restricting sexual promiscuity and socially disruptive behavior, we hypothesized that both parenthood and parental care motivation would predict higher levels of religiosity

The Holy Father (and Mother)? Multiple Tests of the Hypothesis that Parenthood and Parental Care Motivation Lead to Greater Religiosity. Nicholas Kerry, Marjorie L Prokosch, Damian R Murray. January 2022. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357888322

Description: Parenting is a universal element of human life. However, the motivational and attitudinal implications of parenthood remain poorly understood. Given that many major religions prescribe parent-benefitting norms restricting sexual promiscuity and socially disruptive behavior, we hypothesized that both parenthood and parental care motivation would predict higher levels of religiosity. Studies 1-3 (N >2,100 US MTurkers; two pre-registered) revealed that parental status and motivation were robustly associated with religiosity in Americans, and that age-related increases in religiosity were mediated by parenthood. Study 4a (376 students) found a moderated experimental effect, such that emotionally engaged participants showed increases in religiosity in response to a childcare manipulation. Study 4b then replicated this effect in recoded data from studies 1-2. Study 5 used data from the World Values Survey (N=89,565) and found further evidence for a relationship between parenthood and religiosity. These findings support functional accounts of the relationship between parenthood and mainstream religiosity.