"I don't think they should try to force religion down your throat”: Adolescents' perceptions of religious coercion in a faith-based residential treatment facility

This presentation reports findings from a qualitative study of former residents of a faith-based residential facility targeting adolescent males with ADHD. This retrospective study examined 30 participants' experiences to gain insights into the facility's treatment approach which includes a spiritual/religious component.

Researchers conducted face-to-face semi-structured, open-ended interviews that ranged from approximately one and a half to four hours in length. The majority of interviews were videotaped with the balance audio taped. All were transcribed verbatim in preparation for grounded-theory analysis.

The analysis reveals the complexity of the effects of religious programming on individual spirituality. While participants noted a fairly consistent picture of religious requirements of the facility, these practices did not produce uniform results within or among participants in terms of their effects on internal spiritual growth. Considerable differences surfaced among the participants as they recounted their experiences at the treatment facility and their current religious and spiritual journeys. The participant themes include: the influence of the treatment environment on spirituality, desires for improving religious programming, and the lack of preparation for maintaining a spiritual life outside the facility. While many former residents conformed to the strict requirements of the religious components while in the treatment program, the analysis offers little evidence of enduring positive spirituality for the attendees. Further, because of the rigid environment and harsh treatment by some of the staff, the negative memories impact the participants' current spiritual lives.