Church Attendance Research Articles

Assessing the influence of the home on sustaining churchgoing among young Baptists in Canada: a replication study

AbstractThis paper explores the influence of the home on sustaining churchgoing among young Baptists in Canada. Data provided by 126 young Baptists between the ages of 12 and 18 years attending a week-long youth mission and service programme demonstrated that neither personal factors (age and sex) nor psychological factors (extraversion, sensing, thinking, and emotionality) were statistically significant after taking parental church attendance into account. Moreover, these data confirmed fathers' attendance as a statistically significant factor augmenting the effect of mothers’ attendance. The implications of these findings are discussed for pastoral practice. Within the current social context, churches concerned with recruiting and retaining young members may need to concentrate on nurturing and resourcing Christian households (including fathers as well as mothers) in supporting the religious faith and practices of their children. The support and example of both mothers and fathers is important for boys and for girls across the teenage years.

Churchgoing in Edinburgh and Leith, 1836–2016: The Statistical Record

In the ongoing scholarly debate about the secularisation of Scottish (and British) society, churchgoing is one of the few metrics for which longitudinal data exist, albeit fragmentarily. This article assembles and analyses the evidence about levels of church attendance in Scotland’s capital (and second largest) city during the nineteenth to early twenty-first centuries. It draws upon quantitative data (nine religious censuses, with varying methodologies, in 1836, 1851, 1882 and between 1980 and 2016) and qualitative sources (chiefly local newspapers). Relative to population, churchgoing in Edinburgh and Leith appears to have declined continuously since the mid-nineteenth century, in-person attendance standing at an estimated 3.59% of the city’s residents on an average Sunday in 2022–3, somewhat lower than in Glasgow. Possible explanations for this decrease are briefly explored.

Prayer and Mental Well-Being in the United States: An Overview of Original and Comprehensive Prayer Data.

The Baylor Religion Survey (Wave 6; 2021) contains the most comprehensive set of prayer questions of any national survey of the USA; it also contains multiple indicators of mental health and well-being, specifically measures of happiness, depression, anxiety, sense of control, mattering, and dignity. This paper provides a complete overview of how various dimensions of prayer correlate with these different aspects of well-being. While many of these relationships will require more intensive investigation, our synopsis provides confirmation of past expectations using new data. Overall, we find that prayer is related to mental well-being in both positive and negative ways. Specifically, we find that praying with others and positive emotions felt during prayer are correlated with greater overall mental health and more positive self-concepts. However, we also find that petitionary prayer topics, belief that God is impersonal, and negative emotions felt during prayer coincide with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and a lack of control. Generally, these conclusions hold after controlling for basic demographics, religious tradition, and church attendance, which confirms that mental well-being is related to the practice of prayer in both beneficial and detrimental ways.

Et «makedonsk kall»

A “Macedonian Call”: Clerical perspectives on declining church attendance within the ecclesiological dynamic between folk church and community of faith" The Sunday worship service, in Lutheran ecclesiology, is the place where the Word is proclaimed, and the sacraments are administered. It is the main assembly of the congregation, according to the liturgical ordinance of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway. Over the last decades, however, worship service attendance has continuously declined. This article examines the pastors’ perspectives on lower attendance by presenting new empirical material from four group interviews with a total of 16 pastors. The data is viewed theoretically by considering ecclesiological perspectives. The analysis shows that the pastors use the well-known categories of folk church and faith community. While also problematizing these concepts, they experience that normative and descriptive ecclesiologies are somewhat contradictory. The pastors point to fellowship and new relationship-building initiatives as central to congregational life but question whether the Sunday worship service is capable of including such dimensions. Our study emphasizes the necessity of developing strategies that identify and meet local needs for the church’s presence.

“God is my vaccine”: the role of religion, conspiracy beliefs, and threat perception in relation to COVID-19 vaccination

AbstractReligious and conspiracy beliefs are based on the assumption that a potent force exists which is capable of affecting people’s destinies. According to compensatory control theory, the belief in such a potent external agent may serve to alleviate feelings of uncertainty and help restore a sense of control. This is of particular relevance and importance to attitudes and behaviour of religious individuals towards vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic, where a belief in such a potent external force controlling events and destinies may have lowered the sense of threat posed by Covid-19 and in turn reduced vaccination uptake. To test this, we conducted a cross-sectional study of highly religious adults in Poland (N = 213) and found that the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses taken was negatively predicted by conspiracy beliefs, perceived closeness to God, and frequency of church attendance, and positively predicted by the perceived COVID-19 threat. Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that both conspiracy beliefs and perceived closeness to God were related to a decreased perception of the COVID-19 threat, which in turn led to a decreased number of vaccine doses received. Our study offers important insights for public health professionals and identifies further research pathways on conspiracy and religious beliefs in relation to health-related behaviours.

Prevalence of Paid Sex and Associated Factors Among Women and Men Attending HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort

Paid sex is associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, which are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, few data exist on this sexual practice among the general population in SSA, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where data on paid sex mainly comes from sex workers. In the DRC, most HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers do not discuss paid sex as a risk factor. Thus, we aimed to analyze the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors and association with HIV among women and men attending HIV VCT at a reference hospital in Kinshasa. From 2016 to 2018, the Observational Kinshasa AIDS Initiative cohort analyzed the impact of HIV VCT on changes in HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors at follow-up. Participants aged 15–69 years were HIV tested and interviewed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. At baseline, participants were asked about their history of “ever” having had exchanged sex for money. At both follow-ups, the frequency of this practice was referred to as “the previous 6 months.” Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors, and the association between paid sex and HIV. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata 15.1. Among 797 participants at baseline, 10% of those sexually experienced reported having ever had paid sex (18% men and 4% women, p < 0.001). At 6 and 12-month follow-ups, 5% and 2%, respectively. Paid sex was significantly and independently associated with being male (aOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.4–5.2), working or studying (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.5–5.0), daily newspaper reading (aOR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.7–11.2); daily/weekly alcohol consumption (aOR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.8–6.1), first sexual intercourse before age 15 years (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1–5.0), multiple sexual partners (aOR = 4.1; 95% CI = 2.2–7.7), and extragenital sexual practices (aOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.3–4.4). A high religiosity (daily/weekly church attendance and praying) was inversely associated with paid sex (aOR = 0.1; 95% CI = 0.0–0.4). The high prevalence of paid sex among people attending HIV VCT in Kinshasa, associated with other sexual and consumption risk behaviors, highlights the need to include paid sex among the risk factors mentioned in HIV prevention counseling.

The Effect of the Members’ Religious Activity and the Church’s Clergy on Church Growth by the Example of Estonian Protestant Churches

Abstract The article aims to examine religious activity in Christian churches. In order to achieve this goal, religious activity is defined through religious practices such as church attendance, prayer, and Bible reading. The data used in the article are taken from a survey of growing churches (hereafter referred to as KK2020, n=350), in which nine Estonian growing churches participated. The main comparative base is the sociological survey on religion “On Life, Faith and Religious Life” (EUU2020, n=1000), conducted in Estonia. As a result of the analysis, the article presents an overview of religious activity indicators for growing churches, ordinary churches, and the adult Estonian population and compares growing churches of different denominations. Based on the results, it can be hypothesized that religious activity of church members and minister has positive influence on church growth.

Church Financial Demands and Christian Church Attendance in Kyeizooba Sub County, Bushenyi District of Uganda

Church financial demands has led to lack of trust among church leaders and their believers due to frequency of the financial demands from church members without accountability to the members. This has brought lack of trust among church leaders by followers hence reducing attendance of Christians in church and occasioned the creation of different churches by the members due to mistrust between each other. In the light of the above observations, the study calls for Church preachers to explicitly explain God’s word and bring their worshippers to knowledge of God. The church should start self-sustaining projects like rearing cattle, chicken and other agricultural projects so that its treasury can be increased. There is need for churches to form worship memberships’ care team that review the attendance of their worshipers. Finally, there is need for leaders of the church to constantly visit the homes of their Christian brothers, pray for them so that their investments can be blessed by God. Keywords: Christian church, Church financial demands, Membership, Religious market, Worshippers

Urban Churches Show an Increase in Attendance, Donations, and Finances During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA: Evidence from the United Methodist Church

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on religion and its practice. This paper aims to examine how the pandemic affects religious activities, donations, and finances over time and across regions within the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the USA. To address this question, we analyze survey data collected during the pandemic from 2963 churches in the USA by United Methodist Communications. Our analysis utilizes several quantitative techniques, including Z-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multinomial logistic regressions. The results indicate a decrease in church attendance over time, with a more pronounced effect observed in non-urban areas (suburban, small town, and rural). Similarly, while church donations and finances mitigate over time across churches, churches in urban areas experience a quicker rebound compared to those in non-urban areas. Lastly, we find that church attendance and donations positively affect finances. These findings hold important implications for churches in various regions, offering insights to develop strategies for navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can We Explain the Generation Gap in Churchgoing?

Can We Explain the Generation Gap in Churchgoing?

Religious Knowledge: A New Dimensional Approach for Studying Religiosity’s Social Impact in Muslim Societies

Researchers frequently postulate a strong relationship between religiosity and social peace and stability. If one examines the construct of religion in sociological literature (e.g., doctrine, rituals, etc.), it appears that it is so diverse and multifaceted that a single measure of religiosity is inadequate. While quantification of religiosity is possible, social studies rely exclusively on single-item markers of religiousness (e.g., frequency of church attendance). Moreover, two of the dimensions of Glock's (1962) model - religious knowledge and the consequential dimension - have not been examined at all (Filsinger &amp; Wilson, 1986). This paper’s objective is to draw attention to the “religious knowledge” dimension as an influential social factor within society by attempting to construct a peculiar definition to the sociology of Muslim societies. Besides, this paper aims at putting emphasis on the importance and the validity of “religious knowledge” scales and their ability to provide an overview about Muslim individuals’ religiosity.

COVID-19 and Church Attendance Behavior Trends: Evidence from Ghanaian Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches

COVID-19 and Church Attendance Behavior Trends: Evidence from Ghanaian Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches

Abstract 2250: Effects of loneliness on medical expenditures among US cancer survivors

Abstract Background: Social isolation in cancer survivors associates with diminished quality of life and worse survival. However, effects of loneliness on medical expenditure are understudied. We examined associations of loneliness with medical costs, and social/psychological/behavioral determinants of health (SDHs). Methods: We identified 1,866 cancer survivors from the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. One has loneliness if answering ‘often’ for any of: feel lack companionship/left out/isolated from others. Two-part regression models assessed marginal effect of loneliness to annual total health care expenditure (cost) in cancer survivors, aged 18-64 (young) and ≥65 years (older), adjusting for age, sex, race, region, education, health insurance, comorbid illnesses, family income, unemployment, and activity limitation. Models were sequentially adjusted for every single SDH. Ordinal regression models assessed associations of loneliness with SDHs. Results: Over one-tenth of young (19%) and older (13%) cancer survivors reported loneliness. Loneliness was associated with higher cost in older cancer survivors (conditional coefficient (CC) 0.46, 0.12-0.81), but not young survivors (-0.14, -0.62-0.36). In both age groups, cancer survivors with loneliness more often reported stress, lack of help, as well as less time talking on the phone and getting together with support persons (Table). In older patients, sequential adjustment for stress, expected help, get-togethers, or church attendance decreased effect of loneliness to cost; among which get-togethers showed the greatest decrease (CC 0.28, -0.03-0.62). Conclusions: Loneliness was associated with higher total medical expenditure in older US cancer survivors. Findings warrant further study of personal or community support to mitigate loneliness, in an effort to reduce healthcare costs and financial burden in older cancer survivors. Age (year) 18-64 (648) ≥65 (1223) Loneliness No (505, 81%) Yes (143, 19%) No (1046, 87%) Yes (177, 13%) Mean Age (years) 56 56 75 74 Female % 64.5 66.4 53.0 59.1 Non-white % 23.1 21.8 15.8 26.4 Federal poverty level &amp;lt; 100%, % 7.4 18.9 8.9 7.2 Comorbidities ≥ 3, % 25.4 44.4 60.4 67.1 Unemployment ≥ 1, % 35.8 45.3 83.3 89.6 &amp;lt; high school % 30.8 33.7 37.7 36.6 Conditional coefficient (95% CI) Ref -0.14 (-0.62-0.36) Ref 0.46 (0.12-0.81) Odds ratio (95% CI) of loneliness to SDHs Stress Ref 8.42 (5.20-13.63) Ref 6.82 (4.72-9.87) Lack of help - family 3.46 (2.32-5.14) 2.61 (1.88-3.60) Lack of help - friends 3.25 (2.00-5.29) 1.92 (1.36-2.72) Lack of help - community 2.45 (1.64-3.66) 2.16 (1.58-2.96) Times of talk on phone 0.55 (0.36-0.85) 0.77 (0.55-1.07) Times of get together 0.34 (0.21-0.55) 0.38 (0.25-0.58) Citation Format: Fangyuan Chen, Ryan Nipp, Xuesong Han, Zhiyuan Zheng, Robin Yabroff, Changchuan Jiang. Effects of loneliness on medical expenditures among US cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2250.

Congregation Over Denomination: Analyzing Psychological Reactions to a Church Ruling on Same Sex Marriage

AbstractIn 2019, the United Methodist Church (UMC) voted to maintain their stance of prohibiting the ordination of gay clergy and the performance of same‐sex marriages within the church. As part of a multi‐method study, we hosted focus groups, interviews, and conducted surveys with 54 individuals from four UMC churches to assess attitudes about the outcome of the vote. Consistent with hypotheses, the majority expressed disappointment and evidence of having resolved cognitive dissonance that arose from continued church attendance. Both quantitative and qualitative measures indicated a tendency for participants to disidentify with the global church and denomination but to strengthen their commitment and ties to their more LGBTQ‐friendly local congregations. We identified themes of resilience, community, and increased activism. We discuss implications for other organizations grappling with the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities as well as implications for political polarization more broadly.

Acceptance of gay and lesbian people among Polish teachers: the roles of intergroup contact and belief in LGBT conspiracy ideology

ABSTRACT The present research focused on predictors of acceptance of gay and lesbian people among Polish teachers. The relationship between acceptance and intergroup contact was examined through the lens of intergroup contact theory. The secondary goal of this article was to investigate the relationship between gay and lesbian acceptance and endorsement of LGBT-related conspiracy theories. The results (N = 1,638) indicated that intergroup contact and belief in an LGBT conspiracy were the strongest predictors of gay and lesbian acceptance. Moreover, belief in an LGBT conspiracy mediated the relationship between the frequency of church attendance and acceptance of gay and lesbian people. These findings are consistent with the framework of intergroup contact theory.

Role of Church Affiliation and the Sexual Behaviour Choices of Students in Selected Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya

Purpose: The current study sheds light on the role of church affiliation in shaping sexual attitudes and behaviour. Not enough was known about how Christianity can influence the construction of values and beliefs that discourage risky sexual behaviour among adolescents at universities in Kenya. Little was understood on the role of church affiliation explaining variation in adolescent sexuality among Christian communities at universities. Spirituality is an understudied subtype of religiosity yet it may explain patterns of sexual behaviour. Most studies that have examined the relationship between sexual behaviours and religiosity have focused on sexual intercourse. These studies have not examined other sexual behaviour choices, like internet sex.&#x0D; Methodology: Using a mixed-methods design, the relationship between church affiliation and sexual behaviour was examined. In quantitative analysis, a stratified probability sample of (n=176 students) who attend regular prayer sessions in three universities: the Kenyatta University (KU) Main Campus, the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Karen Campus, and the Daystar University was used. Qualitative interviews were conducted with university administrators, chaplains, and other church workers. Undergirding the study was the social identity theory, which articulates the idea of people seeking to gain membership and acceptance in any social group.&#x0D; Findings: The findings suggest church affiliation has a significant effect on sexual attitudes, values, and behaviour. There seems to be an interaction between extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity, with frequent church attendance appearing to induce more conservative sexual beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. Church affiliation had a significant effect on sexual behaviour choices, which includes internet sex and cohabitation and extreme sexual activities.

Examining External and Internal Acculturative Factors: Cuban-Born Women’s Experience of Well-Being in the U.S.

Objective: This study investigates the influence of acculturative stress on the mental well-being of Cuban-born women and Latina immigrants, emphasizing their distinctive experiences. Methods: Utilizing data from the National Latino Asian American Study (NLAAS), a comprehensive nationwide mental health investigation among Latino and Asian Americans, this study examined 264 Cuban women (average age: 58) who migrated to the United States and live in south Florida. The study employed Family Stress Management (FSM) framework and Bekteshi et al.’s Contextual Influence on Acculturative Stress (CIAS) framework to scrutinize the interplay of contextual factors and individual characteristics impacting adolescents’ psychological distress. Results: The findings revealed several noteworthy associations. Higher levels of church attendance, challenges in visiting family overseas, and perceived racial discrimination correlated with elevated stress levels. Furthermore, the age at which individuals immigrated was positively linked to increased stress (b = 0.18; p = 0.04), indicating that older Cuban immigrants experienced greater psychological distress upon their arrival in the United States. Additionally, higher levels of conflict between family and cultural values, as well as intensified religious beliefs, were associated with elevated distress levels. Conclusion: This study underscores the intricate interplay of diverse contextual factors in shaping the mental health and well-being of Cuban-born women. The insights derived from this research have implications for the development of tailored interventions and support systems, aiming to address the unique needs of this population.

Latinx Blue Wave or Religious Red Shift? The Relationship between Evangelicalism, Church Attendance, and President Trump among Latinx Americans

Contrary to expectations of a leftward “blue wave,” there is now a largely unanticipated “red shift” of Latinx-identifying people toward Republican Party candidates. To examine this shift, data from the 2020 Cooperative Election Study, which features a robust sample of Latinx (Hispanic) Americans, are analyzed to study how religion contributes to the discussion of Latinx politics. Multivariate analyses reveal that Latinx Evangelical Protestants voted for President Trump and opposed his removal from office on the grounds of both articles of his first impeachment more so than other religious orientations. A postive correlation between Trump support and church attendance was also found. Both patterns indicate a religious right push for Latinxs. Scholars building on these findings are urged to more consistently distinguish Latinx voters by religious orientation and embeddedness, as they likely will have a significant impact on future political outcomes.

Aston Cantlow v Wallbank: a twenty-year retrospective

AbstractTo mark the passing of two decades since the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords handed down their judgment in the appeal of Aston Cantlow and Wilmcote with Billesley Parochial Church Council v Wallbank this article considers the enduring impact of the decision in terms of the constitutional position of the Church of England as a national church and analyses the public and private functions which it undertakes. In the altered landscape of the new Carolean era, with a decline in church attendance and a rise in secularism, it examines the reasoning of the five separate opinions delivered by the Law Lords and evaluates in retrospect various of the issues raised.

Church Attendance in the Post Covid-19 Era: The Case of Bulawayo East Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

The day the earth stood still! This was an expected event, which caught everyone by surprise. People were expected within a short space of time to come up with safe measures to implement as to save lives. Lives have been turned upside down for the entire human race. The Church found itself on the receiving end and had to systematically respond to this global pandemic through the announcements of closing its doors for worship in a bid to combat the spread of the deadly virus. Early 2021 when Covid-19 pandemic was put under control the government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and churches responded to this with gladness. The church doors were opened and congregants filled up the pews, however there was a group that has never sat foot to church since churches were closed due to COVID-19 in 2020. When the Seventh Day Adventist church in Zimbabwe opened its doors, the Bulawayo East District ceased most of its online programming to encourage physical worship leaving the group not attending church stranded. The district however came up with strategies to lure members back to church and keep their spiritual lives in check. It is therefore the object of this qualitative study to interrogate the effectiveness of the methods adopted by Bulawayo East Church.