International Demography of Youth

Spirituality

Laura Lippman & Julie Keith

Child Trends

Intent

Document global patterns of adolescent and young adult religiosity and spirituality

Explore how the U.S. compares to other countries

Overview

3 International and 3 national (U.S.) datasets used to explore: Young adults’ beliefs and relative importance

of God and religion internationally Adolescents’ involvement in religious

organizations internationally European young adults’ beliefs compared

with religious practices American adolescents’ and young adults’

beliefs and religious importance

Spirituality v. religiosity

Spirituality – beliefs, experiences, or practices that foster a connection to a higher power; may be unrelated to religious practices

Religiosity – following specific practices, attending services, or identifying with the beliefs of a specific religion

Variation in spirituality and religiosity between countries and demographic groups

“Spiritual but not religious” phenomenon

International comparisons

Three international studies used to explore global patterns of spirituality and religiosity:World Values SurveyCivic Education StudyYoung Europeans Survey

World Values Survey

1999-2001 20,000 18- to 24-year-olds 41 countries, 8 regions Measures

Do you believe in God?How important is God in your life? How important is religion in your life?

WVS findings

Spirituality of 18- to 24-year-olds

0

20

40

60

80

100

W. E

urop

e

E. Eur

ope

Africa

Asia/P

acific

S. Asia

Midd

le Eas

t

S. Americ

a

N. Am

erica U.S

.

Believe in God

God is veryimportant

Religion is veryimportant

Civic Education Study

1999 90,000 14-year-olds 28 countries, 7 regions (mostly

European) Measure

Participation in an organization sponsored by a religious group

CivEd findings

Religious group participation of 14-year-olds

0

10

20

30

40

50

W. E

urop

e

E. Eur

ope

N. Eur

ope

S. Eur

ope

Asia/P

acific

S. Am

erica U.S

.

Young Europeans Survey

1997 9,400 15- to 24-year-olds 15 European countries Measure

Choose from 8 categories which best describe your religious involvement, including:

• Practicing believer• Non-practicing believer• Practicing non-believer• Agnostic• Atheist

YES findings

Religious involvement of 15- to 24-year-olds

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

W. Europe N. Europe S. Europe

Practicing believer

Non-practicing believer

Practicing non-believer

Agnostic

Atheist

Youth spirituality in the U.S.

Traditional indicatorsReligious service attendanceImportance attached to religionReligious affiliation or identificationReligious youth group participation

U.S. studiesNational Study of Youth and ReligionSpirituality in Higher EducationMonitoring the Future

National Study of Youth and Religion

2002-2003 3,290 13- to 17-year-olds In-depth telephone survey (entire

sample) and in-person interview (sub-sample)

NSYR findings

84% believe in the existence of God 65% believe in a personal God

involved in people’s lives 51% report that their faith is extremely

or very important 36% feel extremely or very close to

God

Spirituality in Higher Education

Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose

2000 3,680 undergraduates 46 colleges and universities

SHE findings

77% believe we are all spiritual beings 71% gain strength by trusting in a

higher power 67% report that religious/spiritual

beliefs give meaning/purpose to their lives

58% place a high value on integrating spirituality in their lives

Women report greater spirituality and commitment to religion

Monitoring the Future Study

Annual survey of nearly 50,000 8th, 10th, and 12th graders (since 1975)

420 middle and high schools Measure

How important religion is in their lives

MTF findings

Religious importance increased slightly from 1975 to 2003, though it took a dip in the early 1980s

Differences by demographic groupGirls (68%) are more likely than boys

(57%) to rate religion as very or pretty important in their lives

Black students (56%) are more likely that White students (26%) to rate religion as very important

Limitations

No internationally comparable data on adolescent spirituality

Cannot describe relationship between youth and adult spirituality (no longitudinal data)

Little information about demographic subgroups other than gender, age, and occasionally race

Conclusion

Evidence for the “spiritual but not religious” phenomenon in Europe and U.S. Widespread belief in God Less importance placed on religion and

formal religious practices U.S. is between developing and developed

countries in spirituality and religiosity High rates of belief in God (characteristic of

developing countries) Less importance given to religion

(characteristic of developed countries)

International patterns

As a country’s economic development increases there is less emphasis on traditional religious values More emphasis on secular institutions,

educational and economic success, individual choice, and freedom of expression

Young adults from countries with a traditionally religious history score higher on religiosity

Young adults from countries with secular traditions attach lower importance to God and religion