Despite the importance of religion to identity formation, there has been little research on religious identity, resulting in a limited understanding of the development of religious identity, especially among strictly religious adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine religious identity formation changes during post-high school mechina programs to extend the literature on religious identity formation among strictly religious adolescents. This study was conducted at three institutions with mechina programs in Israel and included students from two academic years. We used the Religious Identity status (RISt) questionnaire to measure religious identity statuses among 135 mechina students at the beginning and end of the program. We found that religious identity formation is more progressive than regressive and for most participants, religious identity didn’t remain stable but changed. We also found a significant increase in achievement status, in contrast to the foreclosure status, with insignificant change. The MAMA (moratorium, achievement) model was the most prevalent religious identity formation process model among participants. This study’s findings indicate that religious identity formation is dynamic and mainly progressive. Post-high school religious programs should consider these findings to cater to religious identity formation dynamics.

尽管宗教对身份形成很重要，但对宗教身份的研究却很少，导致人们对宗教身份的发展了解有限，尤其是在严格信教的青少年中。本研究的目的是考察高中后 机械课程期间宗教身份形成的变化，以扩展严格宗教青少年中宗教身份形成的文献。这项研究是在以色列三个拥有机械项目的机构进行的，包括两个学年的学生。我们在项目开始和结束时使用宗教身份状况（RISt）问卷来测量 135 名机械学生的宗教身份状况。我们发现，宗教身份的形成是进步的，而不是倒退的，对于大多数参与者来说，宗教身份并没有保持稳定，而是发生了变化。我们还发现，与丧失抵押品赎回权的状态相比，成就状态显着增加，但变化不大。 MAMA（暂停、成就）模式是参与者中最普遍的宗教身份形成过程模式。这项研究的结果表明，宗教身份的形成是动态的，而且主要是渐进的。高中后的宗教项目应该考虑这些发现，以适应宗教身份形成的动态。