Religious Interest and Involvement of Young Adults: A Research Note

Abstract

Church interest and involvement of younger adults are examined using data from a survey of 19 to 34 year olds in a midwestern metropolitan county. Survey results provide limited support for the family life cycle hypothesis. The pattern of interest and involvement in church suggested by this hypothesis is seen only in the case of mainline Protestant younger adults. The family life cycle pattern is not evident among Catholic younger adults who tend to be less interested in church involvement and less likely to participate in non-worship religious activities compared to Protestant groups. Younger adults affiliated with non-mainline Protestant (including fundamentalist) churches are found to be more interested and involved in church than either mainline Protestant or Catholic younger adults. The levels of interest and involvement of the nonmainline group do not appear to vary substantially by marital status nor by parental status.