The data being used in this programme is mainly derived from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The data collected over the years on the participants’ environment, their development, well-being, personality, mental and physical health can be explored using this website: Explore data and samples | Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children | University of Bristol.
Contents
There are several sets of relevant beliefs and behaviours questions already available for analysis. These are described in the following publications:
Those asked of the study parents immediately before the pandemic:
BBH#2. Iles-Caven Y, Bickerstaffe I, Gregory S, Northstone K, Golding J. Parental spiritual and religious beliefs and behaviour data collected from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, 2020. Wellcome Open Res 2021.
Those asked of the study offspring (G1s) immediately before the pandemic:
BBH#3. Iles-Caven Y, Bickerstaffe I, Northstone K, Golding J. Spiritual and religious beliefs and behaviour: data collected from 27/28-year-old offspring in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, 2019-2020. Wellcome Open Res 2021.
From the data described in these publications we were able to outline the trends of religious belief and behaviour in the parents over a 27 year period from the pregnancy during which the mother was enrolled until her offspring was aged 27/28 in 2020.
Figure showing the trends over time in the proportion of parents who had a positive belief.
Previous beliefs and behaviours data collected on the children
Unlike the enrolled mothers and their partners who were asked about their beliefs and behaviours on several occasions from prenatally to the 2020 sweep, only a few questions were asked of the mother concerning her child’s religious upbringing and behaviours such as praying at the ages of 5, 6, 9 and 11 years. The child was asked directly at ages 16 and 18 years, but the information collected was not as extensive as that asked of their parents. These data are described briefly in BBH#3. The data collected in 2020 therefore are the first detailed assessment of the beliefs and behaviours of the G1s in regard to religion and spirituality.
As noted in BBH#3, the most striking observations are that in almost all aspects of RSBB the offspring of both sexes are more secular than their parents, especially when compared with their mothers. For example, 56.2% of offspring stated that they did not believe in God, or a divine power compared with 26.6% of their mothers and 45.3% of their mothers’ partners. When asked about their type of religion, 65.4% of offspring stated ‘none’, compared with 27.2% of mothers and 40.2% of partners. This confirms previous research reporting increasing secularisation from one generation to the next. As with the mothers and their partners, female offspring were more likely than males to believe in a divine power and to practice their beliefs.
The child/Young Person’s (G1) RSBB exposures
Questions asked in regard to the G1’s RSBB during their childhood and adolescence.
| MATERNAL REPORT | ||
| At 5 years | Options | Frequency (%) |
| Frequency child attends Sunday School or a religious group during term time | ||
| 1+/week | 16.1 | |
| 1/month | 7.1 | |
| Not at all | 76.8 | |
| At 9 years | ||
| Whether child takes an interest in religion | Very interested | 9.8 |
| Somewhat | 52.1 | |
| Not interested | 2.2 | |
| Not sure | 5.9 | |
| Frequency child attends a place of worship | Often | 16.2 |
| Sometimes | 29.6 | |
| Not at all | 54.2 | |
| Frequency child prays | Often | 11.2 |
| Sometimes | 35.4 | |
| Not at all | 44.6 | |
| Not known | 8.8 | |
| Child takes an interest in the meaning of life | Very interested | 9.5 |
| Somewhat | 44.1 | |
| Not interested | 35.9 | |
| Not sure | 10.4 | |
| At 11 years | ||
| Whether child takes an interest in religion | Very interested | 7.8 |
| Somewhat | 44.6 | |
| Not interested | 40.0 | |
| Not sure | 7.5 | |
| Frequency child attends a place of worship | Often | 13.5 |
| Sometimes | 22.8 | |
| Not at all | 63.8 | |
| Frequency child prays | Often | 8.1 |
| Sometimes | 26.4 | |
| Not at all | 48.9 | |
| Not known | 16.6 | |
| Child takes an interest in the meaning of life | Very interested | 10.6 |
| Somewhat | 48.2 | |
| Not interested | 30.3 | |
| Not sure | 10.8 | |
| YOUNG PERSON (G1) REPORT | ||
| At 16 years | ||
| Has taken part in religious groups/organisations in school in the past year | Yes | 3.4 |
| Has taken part in religious groups/organisations outside school in the past year | Yes | 7.2 |
| At 18 years | ||
| Attended a place of worship in the last 4 weeks | Yes | 13.1 |
RSBB questions administered to G0s and G1s at 27-28 years
| RSBB Questions
|
Tick response options |
| Do you believe in God or in some divine power? | Yes, Not sure, No |
| Do you feel that God (or some divine power) has helped you at any time? | Yes, Not sure, No |
| Would you appeal to God (or some divine power) if you were in trouble? | Yes, Not sure, No |
| Do you ‘pray’ even if not in trouble? | Yes, Not sure, No |
| What sort of faith/belief would you say you have? (tick one only)
|
Church of England, Roman Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Methodist, Baptist/Evangelical,
Other Christian (e.g. Christian Science, Mormon, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Orthodox) (Please specify) Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian, None, Other (e.g. New Age, Taoist, Spiritualist) (Please specify)
|
| How long have you had this particular faith/belief (including none)
|
All my life, More than 5 years, 3-5 years, 1-2 years, Less than a year |
| Were you brought up in this faith (including none)? | Yes, this faith, No. If no, what faith were you brought up in, if any? |
| Did you bring your child(ren) up in your current faith/belief (including none)? | Yes, this faith, No. If no, what faith did you bring your children up in, if any? |
| How often do you attend church/temple/mosque or other religious meetings?
|
At least once a week
At least once a month At least once a year Occasionally Not at all |
| Do you obtain help and support from leaders or other members of religious groups?
a) Leaders of your religious group (e.g. priests, rabbis, imams) b) Other members of your religious group c) Leaders of other religious groups d) Members of other religious group (please specify) |
Yes, No, Not applicable |
| How often do you spend time in private religious activities, such as prayer, meditation or holy scripture study?
|
More than once a day
Daily Two or more times/week Once a week A few times a month Rarely or never |
| How often do you listen to/watch religious programming on the radio/television/ social media?
|
Daily
Several times per week Several times per month Occasionally Never |
| How often do you read religious related texts or publications (e.g. the Bible, the Koran, prayer book, Watchtower, The War Cry, The Friend, Spirituality & Health, Catholic Digest)?
Please list which texts/publications/programmes you read/watch/listen to, if any: |
Daily
Several times per week Several times per month Occasionally Never
|
| How much do you agree with the following statements: | |
| In my life, I experience the Presence of the Divine (e.g. God)
|
Definitely true of me
Tends to be true Unsure Tends not to be true Definitely not true |
| My religious beliefs are what really lie behind my whole approach to life
|
Definitely true of me
Tends to be true Unsure Tends not to be true Definitely not true |
| I try hard to carry my religion over into all other dealings in life
|
Definitely true of me
Tends to be true Unsure Tends not to be true Definitely not true |
| I attend a place of worship because it helps me to make friends
|
Strongly agree
Mildly agree Not sure Mildly disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable |
| I pray mainly to gain relief and protection
|
Strongly agree
Mildly agree Not sure Mildly disagree Strongly disagree Not applicable |
| Did you ever have a religious or spiritual experience that changed your life?
a. How old were you when this experience first occurred? b. Please describe the experience, if you wish: |
Yes
No (If no, please go to question X below)
|
| Have you ever had a significant gain in your faith/belief?
a. How old were you when this occurred? b. Please describe, if you wish: |
Yes
No (If no, please go to question X below) |
| Have you ever had a significant loss of faith/belief?
a. How old were you when this occurred? b. Please describe, if you wish: |
Yes
No (If no, please go to question X below) |
| To what extent do you consider yourself a religious person?
|
Very religious
Moderately religious Slightly religious Not religious at all |
| To what extent do you consider yourself a spiritual person?
|
Very spiritual
Moderately spiritual Slightly spiritual Not spiritual at all |
| How important to you is religion or spirituality?
|
Highly important
Moderately important Slightly important Not important at all
|
Faith Schools
Faith schools have to follow the national curriculum, but they can choose what they teach in religious studies. They may have different admissions criteria and staffing policies to state schools, although anyone can apply for a place.
Types of school in England
This information was copied from the DfES website (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/) on 7th February 2005, and consequently is relevant to all ALSPAC children in primary and the first part of secondary school. Using the definitions below, 30% of schools from whom we received reports were faith schools.
Maintained Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 there are three categories of school:
- Community
- Foundation
- Voluntary (divided into Controlled and Aided)
Schools in all three categories have a lot in common. They work in partnership with other schools and the local education authorities (LEAs). They receive funding from LEAs and they have to deliver the national curriculum. But each category has its own characteristics.
Community Schools: In Community Schools (formerly county schools), the LEA employs the schools staff, own the school’s land and buildings and have primary responsibility for deciding the arrangements for admitting pupils.
Foundation Schools: At Foundation School, the governing body employ the school staff and have primary responsibility for admission arrangements. The school’s land and buildings are owned by the governing body or by a charitable foundation.
Voluntary Aided: In Voluntary Aided schools (many of which are church schools) the governing body, employs the staff, and decide admission arrangements. The school’s land and buildings are normally owned by a charitable foundation. The governing body contributes towards the capital costs of running the school. Most aided schools are linked to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church, but there are schools linked to other faith groups and a few non-denominational schools.
Voluntary Controlled: These schools are almost always church schools, and the land and buildings are often owned by a charitable foundation. However, the LEA employ the school staff and has primary responsibility for admission arrangements.
Specialist Schools: Any maintained secondary school in England may apply to be designated as a specialist school in one of ten specialisms. Schools can also combine any two specialisms. These are as follows:
- Arts (performing, visual or media)
- Business and Enterprise
- Engineering
- Humanities
- Language
- Mathematics and Computing
- Music
- Science
- Sports
- Technology
The schools meet full national curriculum requirements but have a special focus on the chosen specialisms. They have a key role in revitalising education especially in disadvantaged areas.
Independent Schools
An independent school is one that is usually funded by fee-paying students and is not maintained by the local authority or central government.