Dr. Pat FaganSenior Fellow and Director
Marriage and Religion Research Institute, FRC
BENEFITS OFFAMILY WORSHIP
Education
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
2.45
2.5
2.55
2.6
2.65
2.7
2.75
2.8
2.85
2.9
Co
mb
ined
En
glis
h-M
ath
Sco
re
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
GPA Score Combined English/ Math Source Ad Health Survey Waves 1+2 1995
3.87
3.59
3.33
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
On
-Tra
ck
Aca
dem
ic P
erfo
rman
ce
High Church Attendance
Average Church Attendance
Low Church Attendance
Children in High Poverty Areas: Academic On-Track Performance Source Mark Regnerus J Sc Study of Relig 2003
Women Who Have Attained a Bachelor’s DegreeSource: National Survey of Family Growth (2002)
20.9
27.630.4
38.9
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Pe
rcen
t E
xpel
led
or
Su
spe
nd
ed
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Expelled or SuspendedSource Adolescent Health Survey Wave 1 Grades 7-12
Violence and Crime
27.7%
33.5%35.4%
37.9%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
Ad
ole
sc
en
ts W
ho
Go
t In
to a
Fig
ht
WEEKLY+ MONTHLY+ <MONTHLY NEVER
Ever Got Into a FightSource: Adolescent Health Survey, Wave I. Adolescents grade 7-12.
12.7
14.4
17.618.7
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Per
cen
t C
om
mit
tin
g T
hef
t
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Theft Among TeenagersSource Adolescent Health Survey Wave 1 Grade 7-12
6.2
7.5
10.410.9
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Per
cen
t o
f R
epea
t S
ho
pli
fter
s
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Repeat Shoplifting Source Adolescent Health Survey Wave 1 Grade 7-12
Running Away Source: Adolescent Health Survey, Wave 1. Adolescents grade 7-12
Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
7.72
11.22
16.22
17.99
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Per
cen
t E
ver
Use
d H
ard
Dru
gs
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Source Adolescent Health Survey Wave 1 Grades 7-12
Ever Used Hard Drugs
19.1%
31.9%
39.3%
35.2%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
WEEKLY+ MONTHLY+ <MONTHLY NEVER
Getting DrunkSource: Adolescent Health Survey, Wave I. Adolescents grade 7-12.
Per
cent
Who
Got
Dru
nk
25
36
4347
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Weekly Monthly or More Yearly or More Never
Sometimes Drinks Too Much AlcoholSource GSS Aggregate Data 1976-2002
Per
cent
Who
Drin
ks to
o M
uch
Alc
ohol
MARRIAGEAND
FAMILY
Rate of Adultery Source: General Social Survey (1972-2006)
The Personal Importance of Having Children Source: General Social Survey (1972-2006)
Quality of Parent-Child RelationshipSource: National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)
49.2
50.4
51.1
51.8
47.5
48
48.5
49
49.5
50
50.5
51
51.5
52
Pro
ble
m B
ehav
ior
Sco
re
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Problem Behavior in Children (mean)
National Survey of Children's Health 2004
Children’s Positive Social Development Source: National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH, 2003)
Sexuality
0.61
0.92
1.411.55
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
Ave
rag
e N
um
ber
of
Sex
ual
Par
tner
s
Weekly Weekly<Monthly Monthly<Yearly Never
Frequency of Religious Attendance
Teenagers: Number of Sexual PartnersSource Adolescent Health Survey Wave 1 Grades 7-12
Cumulative Number of Women’s Lifetime Sexual PartnersSource: National Survey of Family Growth (2002)
Women (aged 14-44) with Two or More Cohabitations in a LifetimeSource: National Survey of Family Growth (2002)
Community
44
33
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
High Religious Attendance (Monthly +) Low to No Religious Attendance
Percent Who Volunteered For Charitable Activities In the Last Year
Source GSS: Aggregate Data 1976-2002