International Demography of Youth Spirituality
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Transcript of International Demography of Youth Spirituality
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