COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Church involvement is a key factor in helping children who grow up in poverty and single-family homes learn to give back to their communities, a new study suggests.

The study's results, published in the journal Youth & Society, show that growing up disadvantaged can harm the development of prosocial behaviors such as volunteerism, according to Ascribe News.

The study, conducted by Ohio State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Pennsylvania State University, included responses from 1,106 teens ranging in age from 14 to 18 and who were still in high school. The sample focused on at-risk young people born to mothers who were disproportionately young, unmarried and poor.

"The concern is whether disadvantaged youth, such as those who live in poverty, become socially responsible and civic-minded young people," said Daniel Lichter, the study's co-author. "While there has been plenty of research about negative activities among disadvantaged youth, we need to learn more about positive behaviors and how to promote them."

The study found that religious activity played a significant role in developing community involvement. But early disadvantages in life -- especially for boys in the study -- are linked to lower church attendance during adolescence.

"Our results point to the importance of schools and churches for providing a pathway for young adults to volunteer," Lichter said.