Melissa Fritsch’s scientific contributions

... Shafer (2008:6) confirms this finding when he says that his final analysis of the results of youth ministry impact shows that lasting impact of youth ministry on the lives of youth seemed to be measured in months, not years. Dean (2010:4) says that the The National Study of Youth and Religion of Regnerus, Smith and Fritsch (2003) reveals a faulty concept of theology in American churches: it is seen as a do-good, feel-good spirituality that has little to do with the Triune God or with loving Jesus Christ in the long run. Dean (2010:6) concludes that the church has not succeeded in conveying 'faith' to young people. ...

Reference:

Effective Youth Ministry: Theology-driven in a Cultural Context

... In their national longitudinal study on adolescent health, Resnick et al. (1997) found prayer and religion led to improved self-esteem and decreased levels of alcohol and cigarette use among adolescents. In addition, Regnerus et al. (2003) noted the positive effects of religiosity on adolescents' mental health (see also Rew & Wong, 2006). Historically, religiosity and spirituality were agreed-upon constructs within a homogeneous and closely connected society. ...

Reference:

Overview of Our Research on the Impact of Spiritual and Emotional Intelligence on Satisfaction with Life and Anxiety and Depression as Key Predictors of Well-Being Among Emerging Adults