Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Mental health remains greatest challenge for 13- to 25-year-olds

NewsJeff Brumley  |  April 21, 2022

Mental health is the biggest challenge presently facing young people in the United States, but some say faith has helped them cope with their continuing emotional struggles, according to a survey designed to help churches minister to Generation Z in a post-pandemic environment.

The research by Springtide Research Institute found that Americans 13 to 25 years of age struggled with mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report summarizes: “Alarmingly, nearly half of young people (48%) told Springtide they are moderately or extremely depressed, while about a quarter of young people say they are ‘extremely’ stressed (25%), extremely anxious (26%), or extremely lonely (21%). Sadly, most young people (61%) agree, ‘The adults in my life don’t truly know how much I am struggling with my mental health.’”

But among those who identify as persons of faith, most (67%) said religion and spirituality positively influenced their mental health during the pandemic and beyond, Springtide reported.

“Young people who tell us they are ‘very religious’ are more likely to tell us they are flourishing in their mental health. The inversion is true for those who say they are ‘not religious at all’ — they are more likely to say they are not flourishing in their mental health.”

The survey also reported that the depth of faith has been on the upswing among young people during the past two years. “More young people told Springtide that their faith became stronger during the pandemic (30%) than weaker (18%) or lost completely (8%). This includes a growing number who agree, ‘I know a higher power exists and I have no doubts about it,’ from 22% in 2021 to 28% in 2022, and a higher percentage who say they feel ‘highly connected’ to a higher power, from 13% in 2021 to 18% in 2022.”

“This rise in religiosity, however, hasn’t translated into a desire to attend church or other worship for most surveyed.”

This rise in religiosity, however, hasn’t translated into a desire to attend church or other worship for most surveyed, Springtide found. “The percentage of those attending religious services daily, weekly, monthly or less than monthly each dropped 1% to 5% from 2021 to 2022, while the percentage who say they never attend religious services rose somewhat dramatically from 30% in 2021 to 44% in 2022.”

The picture isn’t any brighter for online religious gatherings. “The most popular pandemic practice that young people want to keep is cooking more (39%), while virtual religious gatherings are what young people least want to keep (6%). Only 10% of young people say they found joy in virtual religious gatherings during the pandemic.”

In sum, 31% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that a “totally online religious/spiritual community could meet all my spiritual needs,” while 67% either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement.

Also declining is the esteem with which Gen Z members hold clergy, given that only 10% said a faith leader contacted them personally during 2020, according to the survey.

“Now, 26% of young people say their relationship with faith leaders has become weaker during the pandemic —though nearly the same percentage, 23% of young people, say these relationships have become stronger.”

In probing Gen Z respondents on their views of how different institutions handled the pandemic, Springtide found only 17% reported an increase in trust of government while 47% said they trust government less or not at all.

Schools didn’t fare much better, with 34% reporting they trust those institutions less compared to 28% who trust them more.

“By comparison, more young people say they now trust their place of worship more or completely because of their handling of the pandemic (37%) than trust them less or not at all (20%). Seven in 10 young people (71%) agree that their place of worship did a good job keeping them safe from the coronavirus, compared to 63% who agreed about their school and 43% who agreed about the government doing a good job keeping them safe.”

When asked which institutions they trusted to give reliable guidance in handling the coronavirus outbreak, 13% said “the government in general,” 14% credited the Trump administration and 16% cited the Biden administration.

“Low marks were also given to social media (18%) and the news media (13%). Overwhelmingly, young people said they trusted trained medical professionals (44%) to give them guidance on how to handle the pandemic.”

While 34% of young people reported feeling hope for 2022, 33% said they feel uncertain and 42% said they feel isolated or trapped. As a result, many in the Gen Z cohort are in need of help and likely open to it.

“Trusted adults and leaders have an opportunity to rebuild trust and help stoke the small glimmer of hope young people admit having at this point,” Springtide’s report said. “Young people don’t necessarily feel they have been safely guided through this unprecedented time.”

 

Related articles:

American young people report huge gaps between what matters to them and what appears to matter to the church

42% of young people say no one outside their home has reached out to them during pandemic 

Young adults say churches key in battle against climate change, poverty and corruption

Most young people are unsettled in the new year but few plan to turn to the church for help

Tags:Mental Healthyoung peoplepastorschurchesCOVID-19online worshipSpringtide Research Institutereligious gatherings
More by
Jeff Brumley
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      News

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      Opinion

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      News

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      Opinion


    Curated

    • Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      August 19, 2022
    • Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      August 19, 2022
    • USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      August 19, 2022
    • Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      August 19, 2022
    Read Next:

    BGCT wants to ‘review and consider changes’ in its relationship to Baylor

    AnalysisMark Wingfield

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Mohler to speak on the ‘idolatry’ of secularism at conference advocating ‘national conservatism’

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Faith leaders call for urgent opposition to Oklahoma plan to execute an inmate a month for two years

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • This week is the 80th anniversary of the day my great-grandparents died

      OpinionJonathan Feldstein

    • When my dad asked me to preach a revival in his church, I took a crew of encouragers instead

      OpinionEli Withers

    • India at 75: The world’s largest democracy is dying of toxic nationalism

      AnalysisErich Bridges

    • The congregational staffing crisis

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • Progressive National Baptist Convention elects woman to leadership role for first time

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • 50 years later, I’m still embarrassed to admit what a stranger at church taught me about being welcome

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • Is ‘In God We Trust’ an assertion of Christian nationalism or of American history in public schools?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • More questions than answers right now regarding DOJ investigation into SBC

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Carver School of Social Work was a victim of American fundamentalism, authors explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Looking for hope in a time of abandonment

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • BGCT wants to ‘review and consider changes’ in its relationship to Baylor

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • My two phone calls to Frederick Buechner

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Hymn stories: ‘The Church’s One Foundation’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • When forced to choose between their ministry and their transgender child, this family chose love

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Remembering a sign for the times: The serpent and the seminary

      OpinionDalen Jackson

    • Frederick Buechner influenced millions with his insightful writing and quotable lines

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • No, Dan Patrick, God did not write the U.S. Constitution

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • Black religion and reparation questions

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • Mohler to speak on the ‘idolatry’ of secularism at conference advocating ‘national conservatism’

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Faith leaders call for urgent opposition to Oklahoma plan to execute an inmate a month for two years

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Progressive National Baptist Convention elects woman to leadership role for first time

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Is ‘In God We Trust’ an assertion of Christian nationalism or of American history in public schools?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • More questions than answers right now regarding DOJ investigation into SBC

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Carver School of Social Work was a victim of American fundamentalism, authors explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Veterans and faith groups urge Congress to secure the safety of Afghan immigrants

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • When forced to choose between their ministry and their transgender child, this family chose love

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Frederick Buechner influenced millions with his insightful writing and quotable lines

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Progressive National Convention joins with AFL-CIO to advance racial and economic justice

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Historic Kentucky church calls gay man as co-pastor

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Department of Justice investigating SBC on sexual abuse

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • ‘Everything is changing at the same time,’ veteran religion reporter explains

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Tony and Lauren Dungy know something about influence, on the field and at home

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • It’s easier to be a bully today, author explains

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Transitions for the week of 8-12-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • SBC president says he tried to enlist more women for sexual abuse task force but got turned down repeatedly

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • At long last, Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy appears to be dead

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Some evangelical leaders see FBI visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago as evidence of the religious persecution coming to them

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New study finds scammers luring migrants with false information via Facebook and WhatsApp

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Progressive Baptist congregation on Wake Forest campus votes to close

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • South African women’s soccer team success shines a light on gender wage discrimination

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • This week is the 80th anniversary of the day my great-grandparents died

      OpinionJonathan Feldstein

    • When my dad asked me to preach a revival in his church, I took a crew of encouragers instead

      OpinionEli Withers

    • The congregational staffing crisis

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • 50 years later, I’m still embarrassed to admit what a stranger at church taught me about being welcome

      OpinionTerry Austin

    • What The Bear should teach us about the church and genuine acceptance

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Looking for hope in a time of abandonment

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • My two phone calls to Frederick Buechner

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • Hymn stories: ‘The Church’s One Foundation’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • The fantastical world of climate change denial: Slouching toward annihilation

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Remembering a sign for the times: The serpent and the seminary

      OpinionDalen Jackson

    • No, Dan Patrick, God did not write the U.S. Constitution

      OpinionRick Pidcock

    • Black religion and reparation questions

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • What happened to American conservatism? Engaging Matthew Continetti’s The Right

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Skepticism holds seeds of hope: The SBC and clergy sex abuse

      OpinionChrista Brown

    • Here’s what I’m learning in therapy

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Letter to the Editor: I also stand with Brittney Griner and kneel for the Anthem

      OpinionLetters to the Editor

    • A thoughtful question at Bubba-Doo’s

      OpinionCharles Qualls

    • In applauding Victor Orban, U.S. conservatives call their shot

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Christian nationalism is a danger to our nation

      OpinionMarvin McMickle

    • Advice from a sunflower

      OpinionPhawnda Moore

    • What I learned at Wake Forest Baptist Church

      OpinionDavid Ramsey

    • Why can’t we accept sexual and gender diversity in humans as well as in all creation?

      OpinionDan McGee

    • I’ve been unaware of my privilege, and if you are a man, you probably have, too

      OpinionRobert P. Sellers

    • Are left-wing radicals pushing Cracker Barrel to the edge of the slippery slope?

      OpinionBrett Younger

    • To be more welcoming, let’s remove our flags

      OpinionJustin Pierson

    • Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to protect LGBTQIA+ community from conversion therapy

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Archaeologists uncover inscription to Peter

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • USDA says religious schools will be granted automatic Title IX exemption

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Report: Nonreligious LGBTQ people face heightened stigma, conceal their beliefs

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Interfaith summit dreams of America as a potluck, not a battlefield

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Empowered by Magic: The Christians and “Nones” Exploring Witchcraft

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Faith-Based Fashion Entrepreneurs Aim To Transform The Way We Purchase Online

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Lag in slavery reparations from US Jesuits irks descendants

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Texas school district orders librarians to remove a version of Anne Frank’s diary from shelves

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Iran denies involvement but justifies Salman Rushdie attack

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Non-affirming views continue to complicate HIV/AIDS response in Black churches

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Sometimes dialogue is not the answer and neutrality is a trap: an interview with the authors of ‘The Neutrality Trap’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In latest ‘gOD-Talk’ discussion, Black millennials discuss hip-hop and faith

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Colorado to spar over discrimination case in Supreme Court

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Crossing the rubicon? Mar-a-Lago raid enflames right wing fantasies of Christian Caesarism

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • An interfaith discussion on the role of religion in mental health

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Republicans keep mostly mum on calls to make GOP ‘party of Christian nationalism’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • The Faith-Based Politics of El Salvador’s Millennial President

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Reckoning with their history, Lutherans issue declaration to Indigenous peoples

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Religion, Spirituality Second Most Frequently Read Genre in U.S.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope Francis meets transgender guests of Rome church

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Politicians seek to control classroom discussions about slavery in the US

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Despite vastly different values, evangelical ‘Hamilton’ connects secular left and Christian right

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Both Open- and Close-mindedness Increase in U.S.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS