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 they want to pass on to their children. A new analysis of several Pew Research Center surveys reveals that parents are equally likely to pass along their religious and political affiliations to their kids.

In a recent survey of 3,757 parents with children under 18, it was found that most parents prioritize passing on both their religious and political beliefs to their children. While parents may see both types of affiliation as important, they still place a higher emphasis on values such as honesty, hard work, and ambition.

Interestingly, the survey showed that parents from different religious backgrounds have varying priorities when it comes to passing on their faith. For example, 70% of White born-again or evangelical Protestant parents believe it is extremely important for their children to share their religious beliefs, compared to only 8% of religiously unaffiliated parents.

When it comes to successfully transmitting these beliefs, a survey of 1,811 pairs of parents and their teenage children found that the majority of parents were successful in passing on their political and religious affiliations. The survey indicated that about 81% of Republican parents had teens who also identified as Republicans, while 89% of Democratic parents had teens who identified the same way.

Overall, the analysis suggests that American parents are effective in passing on their religious and political beliefs to their children. However, the survey also highlights the importance of considering how children may develop their own beliefs as they grow older.