SD 1.3

RELIGIOUS ATTENDANCE AND RELIGIOSITY

Research relating religion to children’s day-to-day conduct suggests that teens who are religious are more likely to avoid high-risk behaviors.³

The percentage of 12th grade students who report weekly religious attendance has declined from 41 percent in 1976 to 32 percent in 1992, where it has remained constant through 1995 (see Figure SD 1.3). During that same time period, the percentage who report that religion plays a very important role in their lives stayed fairly constant, between 26 percent and 31 percent.

Differences by Age. Data for students in the 8th and 10th grades, available since 1991, indicate that younger teens are more likely to report weekly religious attendance, but are not more likely to report that religion plays a very important role in their lives (see Tables SD 1.3.A and SD 1.3.B). In 1995, 42 percent of 8th graders reported weekly religious attendance versus 37 percent of 10th grade and 32 percent of 12th grade students. During that same year, the percentage reporting that religion played an important role in their lives was about 30 percent for all three grades.

Differences by Gender. Females in all grades are somewhat more likely than males to report weekly religious attendance and that religion plays a very important role in their lives, though in the past two years this difference has not exceeded five percentage points.

Differences by Race. In recent years, black students have been more likely than white students to report weekly religious attendance. The attendance gap grows somewhat larger in the upper grades, to 8 percentage points among 12th graders in 1995 (40 percent for black students versus 32 percent for white students). The difference between black and white students is even more pronounced in their views on the importance of religion in their lives. Black students across grades have consistently been about twice as likely as their white counterparts to report that religion plays a very important role in their lives. For example, in 1995, 52 percent of black 12th graders reported that religion played such a role, compared to 26 percent of white 12th grade students.
 

Figure SD 1.3   Religious Attendance and Religiosity Among High School Seniors: 1976-1995

Source: Johnston, L.D., Bachman, J.G. , O’Malley, P.M. “Monitoring the Future: Questionnaire responses from the nation’s high school seniors.” 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. 12th grade 1976, 1981, and 1986 based on questionnaire forms 1-5; and, 12th grade 1991-1995 based on questionnaire forms 1-6.
 
 

Table SD 1.3.A   Percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th Graders Who Report Regular (Weekly) Religious Attendance: Selected Years, 1976-1995
						1976	1981	1986	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
						———	———	———	———	———	———	———	———
8th Grade
Total						--	--	--	46	43	42	42	42
	Gender
		Male				--	--	--	44	41	39	40	40
		Female				--	--	--	49	46	45	45	45
	Race
		White				--	--	--	48	44	44	44	43
		Black				--	--	--	47	46	42	42	46
10th Grade
Total						--	--	--	38	39	40	37	37
	Gender
		Male				--	--	--	35	37	37	35	35
		Female				--	--	--	42	41	43	39	40
	Race
		White				--	--	--	39	39	41	37	37
		Black				--	--	--	44	45	44	41	44
12th Grade
Total						41	40	34	31	32	32	32	32
	Gender
		Male				36	36	31	28	31	29	30	30
		Female				46	44	38	34	34	34	35	35
	Race
		White				42	41	35	31	32	31	32	32
		Black				37	40	36	38	35	35	39	40
Source: Johnston, L.D., Bachman, J.G., O’Malley, P. M. "Monitoring the Future: Questionnaire Responses from the Nation’s High School Seniors." 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. Data for 8th and 10th grade 1991-1995, from unpublished questionnaire responses, forms 1 and 2; 12th grade 1976, 1981, and 1986 based on questionnaire forms 1-5; and, 12th grade 1991-1995 based on questionnaire forms 1-6.

 
 

Table SD 1.3.B   Percentage of 8th, 10th, and 12th Graders Who Report that Religion Plays a "Very Important" Role in Their Lives: Selected Years, 1976-1995
							1976	1981	1986	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
							———	———	———	———	———	———	———	———
8th Grade
Total							--	--	--	29	27	30	30	30
	Gender
		Male					--	--	--	27	26	27	29	28
		Female					--	--	--	31	28	32	32	32
	Race
		White					--	--	--	26	23	26	26	26
		Black					--	--	--	46	46	42	47	45
10th Grade
Total							--	--	--	29	28	29	28	29
	Gender
		Male					--	--	--	26	26	26	24	26
		Female					--	--	--	31	29	31	32	31
	Race
		White					--	--	--	24	24	26	24	25
		Black					--	--	--	52	50	50	48	49
12th Grade
Total							29	31	26	28	29	29	30	30
	Gender
		Male					24	25	23	24	26	26	27	27
		Female					34	36	30	31	33	33	32	33
	Race
			White				26	27	23	24	25	24	26	26
			Black				51	51	51	50	51	51	49	52
Source: Johnston, L.D., Bachman, J.G. , O’Malley, P.M. "Monitoring the Future: Questionnaire Responses from the Nation’s High School Seniors." 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. Data for 8th and 10th grade 1991-1995, from unpublished questionnaire responses, forms 1 and 2; 12th grade 1976, 1981, and 1986 based on questionnaire forms 1-5; and, 12th grade 1991-1995 based on questionnaire forms 1-6.