Youth Indicators, 2005: Trends in the Well-Being of American Youth

Indicator 40: Religion

Figure 40. Percentage of high school seniors reporting religious involvement: 1976 to 2001

Percentage of high school seniors reporting religious involvement: 1976 to 2001
NOTE: The response rate for this survey does not meet NCES statistical standards.
SOURCE: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Monitoring the Future, various years.

The proportion of high school seniors who attend religious services every week declined from 43 percent in 1980 to 30 percent in 1990. However, since 1990, there has been an increase in the proportion of students who attend weekly religious services to 33 percent in 2001. The proportion of seniors who felt that religion was 'very important' in their lives also declined, from 32 percent in 1980 to 26 percent in 1990. Since then, the proportion has risen to 32 percent in 2001.


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