Emerging adulthood, a time of instability and growing autonomy, has been associated with a decline in religiosity and an increase in religious and spiritual (r/s) struggle. In this study we examine the relationship between r/s struggle and dysfunction in the normative developmental challenge of individuation, a question novel to the literature. A random sample of 788 emerging adults (61% female, m age = 19.5) from a private Midwestern university was assessed on indices of r/s struggle, dysfunctional individuation, perception of religious support from parents and peers, college adjustment (anxiety), spiritual quest orientation and spiritual growth mindset at three time points over the course of one school year. Latent growth curve models found that dysfunctional individuation was the most significant predictor of change in r/s struggle over time. These findings have implications for understanding the developmental sources of r/s struggle.
