For the past two years, the Springtide team has interviewed and surveyed young people and adults to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. This research, funded in part by Lilly Endowment Inc., shows what young people want from youth ministry. Behaviors young people want from youth
How often teens talk about religion at home may say a lot about how religious they are. In Springtide Research Institute’s survey on Gen Alpha teens (born in or after 2010), participants rated the extent to which they identify as religious (on a scale from “not religious at all” to
Springtide’s recent research on young people finds that Gen Z men and women are quite similar in their feelings about religion and spirituality. For some aspects of religiosity (such as connection to a higher power and level of spirituality), young men and women do not differ at all. For other
According to Springtide Research Institute’s data on young people, one-third of teens and young adults (33%) are religious “Nones”—a broad category that often includes atheists, agnostics, those unaffiliated with organized religion, and the “spiritual but not religious.” But who are young “Nones” and what do they believe? “Nones” hold diverse
Evangelicals have long commanded attention in American politics, but less is known about teen and young adult evangelicals. What does “evangelical” mean to young people, ages 13–25, who identify as such? Our research on Gen Z and Gen Alpha reveals just how complex young people’s feelings are about evangelical identities.
How many young people identify as LGBTQ+? Among the 6,669 young people (ages 13-25) surveyed in Springtide’s 2024 Study of Young People and Civic Life, 22% identify as LGBTQ+. Among young people in the U.S., 10% identify as bisexual, 4% identify as gay or lesbian, and 8% identify with another
In Springtide’s site visits for the What’s Working project, leaders shared their wisdom and insights from years of experience in youth ministry. Five themes shaped our inquiries during these visits: adaptability, integrity, inclusivity, fun, and purpose. While these are universal concepts, each manifested differently in theory and practice, providing a
Each year Springtide surveys thousands of young people between the ages of 13 and 25. Like previous years, our latest data show that young people continue to participate in religious and spiritual communities and practices. COMMUNITY Sixty-five percent of young people surveyed say they are not currently part of an
Springtide Research Institute just completed the second phase of the What’s Working project, a multi-year campaign, sponsored in part by Lilly Endowment, Inc., to learn best practices in youth ministry for connecting and supporting young people. In this blog, lead researcher Dr. Hannah Evans talks about the research process, the
Each year Springtide surveys thousands of young people between the ages of 13 and 25. Like previous years, our latest data show that young people continue to claim religious and spiritual identities and beliefs. IDENTITY A large majority of young people identify as at least slightly religious (71%) or spiritual