American Parents’ Transmission of Religion and Politics to Their Children: A Pew Research Center Analysis
American parents are faced with the decision of what values and beliefs to pass along to their children, and a new analysis from the Pew Research Center sheds light on whether they prioritize religion or politics. Surprisingly, it turns out that most parents pass along both kinds of affiliation at similarly high rates.
In a recent survey of 3,757 parents with children under 18, it was found that parents place a high importance on passing on both their religious and political beliefs to their children. The survey also included an oversample of Black, Hispanic, and Asian parents to ensure diverse perspectives were captured.
While parents overall prioritize passing on their religious views more than their political views, the survey revealed that 35% of U.S. parents believe it is extremely or very important for their children to share their religious beliefs, compared to only 16% who feel the same about their political views. However, both religious and political transmission were seen as less important than other values such as honesty, hard work, and ambition.
Interestingly, the survey also found that certain religious groups place a higher priority on raising their children to carry on their faith. For example, 70% of White born-again or evangelical Protestant parents emphasized the importance of their children holding similar religious beliefs, compared to just 8% of religiously unaffiliated parents.
When it comes to successfully transmitting these beliefs to their children, the survey indicated that American parents are quite efficient. In a survey of over 1,800 teens and their parents, it was found that the vast majority of parents had successfully passed on their political loyalties and religious affiliations to their children.
Overall, the analysis provides insight into the values and beliefs that American parents prioritize passing along to their children, highlighting the importance of both religious and political affiliation in shaping the next generation.