Written by Peter Jon Mitchell

As it turns out, going to church is good for kids. Despite atheist Richard Dawkins’ opinion that religion is akin to child abuse, the evidence suggests a foundation of faith may influence positive attitudes and behaviours among young people.

A new Canadian study by Dr. Frank Jones, Research Fellow with the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, has found associations between the participation of parents and children in worship and positive teen behaviour and attitudes.

Using data from Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, the study examined children of married and cohabiting parents. The children were interviewed at age six to 11 and again eight years later at age 14 to 19. The primary focus of the research was to study 40 teen behaviours and attitudes based on parental marital status. However, the study noted interesting associations when considering parental church affiliation and a teen’s frequency of worship during childhood.

Teens who, as children, had a parent who went to church, were less likely to be sexually active. They tended to used marijuana less often or not at all, and were less likely to have close friends who used illegal substances. They were also more likely to get along with their parents.

Teens who frequently worshipped as children were less likely to use drugs or have close friends who used drugs. They were also less likely to have sex, get drunk, sell drugs, damage things or have run-ins with police. They were more likely to be happy with life, help others and have close relationships with parents.

These findings may seem intuitive to many Christian families. The Church provides a close-knit community of support and a valuable social network. People of faith commit to values and behaviours that reflect the character of the One they worship. Christians would argue, too, that an inner spiritual transformation occurs when coming to faith in Christ.

Dr. Jones’ research should be encouraging for churches that champion marriage and healthy families. The study found that teens who lived, in their younger years, with married parents were less likely to smoke, sell drugs, and engage in sexual intercourse than teens who were parented by common-law couples as a child. Sexually active teens were more likely to be older when they began engaging in sexual activities if they were raised by married parents. Teens with married parents were also more likely to have a good relationship with their parents, and their parents were more likely to get along.

The Church may feel a little out of step in a hook-up culture that believes the only difference between “shacking up” and getting married is a piece of paper. But the weight of this research and many other studies concludes that living common-law is not the same as marriage, especially when it comes to raising children. More than ever, the Church must articulate the importance of marriage and be proactive in helping parents build strong families. The Church must support parents as they pass on a legacy of faith to their children.

Peter Jon Mitchell is a research a research analyst with the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada.