The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence

This comprehensive volume brings together leading international researchers to map the current landscape of spiritual development across childhood and adolescence, offering a multidisciplinary examination of how young people construct meaning and purpose. Drawing from diverse cultural traditions and academic approaches, the handbook synthesizes decades of social science research into accessible yet rigorous chapters that explore everything from cognitive aspects of spirituality to its social and emotional dimensions. The work provides both theoretical frameworks and empirical findings that illuminate how spiritual awareness evolves from early childhood through the teenage years, making complex developmental processes understandable for readers.

What distinguishes this resource is its unprecedented scope in bridging psychological, sociological, and educational perspectives on youth spirituality, creating a foundational text for anyone studying or working with young people. Scholars across multiple disciplines will appreciate the methodological diversity and international viewpoints, while practitioners in youth development, education, and religious contexts will find practical insights for supporting healthy spiritual formation. By consolidating fragmented research into a coherent whole, this handbook establishes spiritual development as a crucial dimension of human growth that deserves serious academic attention and informed practice.