Embedded Files
📋 Jonathan Haidt 📅 2024 📍USA
#mentalhealth #youthdevelopment #secondaryresearch
The Anxious Generation has been widely discussed in the US for the last several months. In it, Jonathan Haidt lays out a theory for the rising rates of mental health concerns for Gen Z in the Western world. He argues that the switch from a play-based childhood, where kids learn primarily through embodied real-world experiences, to a phone-based childhood, where kids learn primarily through disembodied experiences, is pivotal to Gen Z’s rise in anxiety and depression.
By analyzing several ongoing studies, Haidt identifies 2010 as a pivotal year where mental health numbers began to plummet for Gen Z in the US. He connects this date to various technological developments that changed childhood from a play-based to a phone-based experience. Haidt relies on research to demonstrate the difference in effect for girls and boys, and theorizes how best to respond to each gender. He also proposes a plan for collective action in the Western world.
Key Findings
Key Findings
2010 is highlighted as a pivotal year for the decline in Gen Z’s mental health.
Haidt argues that this is due to changes in how we use and interact with technology, for example, the shift to front-facing cameras for selfies and social media’s move from one-on-one networking towards image-based broadcasts.
This shift came right at the time that Gen Z was entering puberty, thus affecting their development with unique consequences for girls and boys. Four foundational harms are identified: Social Deprivation, Sleep Deprivation, Attention Fragmentation, and Addiction.
Haidt recommends four types of collective action to facilitate change:
Voluntary coordination among parents
Normalizing aspects of a play-based childhood such as unsupervised free play
Introducing solutions such as phone lock boxes to offset the distraction of phones in schools
Creating better laws to protect children online
What can you do with this research?
What can you do with this research?
The Anxious Generation is a book that is shaping discussions in the Western world about the relationship between young people and technology. We should be informed about his argument as we enter conversations about tech, parenting, and mental health moving forward.
This research is also good to keep in mind as OneHope expands our digital ministry offerings. Are there aspects of Haidt’s argument that should shape how we’re thinking about developing healthy, supportive digital ministries? What is our role in shepherding young people toward healthy digital engagement?
Haidt also draws out the unique influence of technology in the lives of girls versus boys. Recognizing the distinct relationship that each gender has with technology could be very helpful when designing products and programs.
Read OneHope’s review of The Anxious Generation.
📋 Nurturing Faith Collective 📅 2024📍USA+
#family #community #surveys
Partnering Church and Home: Discipleship for the Next Generation highlights how important it is for church leaders and parents to work together to help children grow spiritually. Based on surveys of over 900 participants from 25 countries, the book shows that while the home is key to spiritual growth, parents need strong support from their church communities. The study finds that parents want to connect with other adults on similar faith journeys, need practical resources, and appreciate opportunities for intergenerational worship and service. The authors also focus on Latino families, who place high value on relationships, family commitments, and community support.
The report also looks at the challenges that both ministry leaders and parents face when trying to disciple children. Parents often struggle with time constraints, confidence, and prioritizing spiritual growth. Ministry leaders, on the other hand, see the need to build stronger relationships with parents and offer easily accessible resources. The book wraps up by suggesting ways churches can support parents, stressing the importance of communication, understanding, and working together as a community to help children grow in their faith.
Key Findings
Key Findings
Parental Collaboration: Most parents prefer a partnership between home and church for their children's spiritual growth, with 69% seeing this teamwork as crucial.
Relationship Building: Both parents and ministry leaders agree that strong, supportive relationships are key to effective discipleship.
Resource Accessibility: Parents, especially those from Latino families, find a curated list of practical resources helpful since they often feel overwhelmed by too many options.
Challenges in Prioritization: Time pressures and a lack of confidence make it hard for parents to focus on spiritual growth at home, especially for Latino families.
Church's Role: Ministry leaders feel they need more support from parents but believe that stronger relationships and simple, easy-to-use resources can improve their partnership and help in discipling children.
What can you do with this research?
What can you do with this research?
Partnering Church and Home offers many lessons and action steps for both church leaders and Christian parents. For ministry leaders and OneHope workers, it’s a reminder to consider the time limitations parents face when creating products or programs for them.
The authors also encourage us to keep looking for ways to improve collaboration between parents and the church. How can we create programs that promote regular interaction between church leaders and parents? How can we emphasize strengthening relationships through the materials we provide?
If you want more details or the authors' action recommendations (there are many!), you can grab a copy of the book. Also, keep an eye out for new parent research from OneHope’s WalkWith initiative. We’ll be thinking about these ideas for a long time!
Read OneHope’s summary of Partnering Church and Home.
📋 WalkWith 📅 2024📍USA
OneHope's Parent Research aims to understand parents' behaviors, beliefs, practices, goals, and perceptions. Through surveys and other research, we work to engage and equip the most influential voice in young people's lives.
Our latest parent research explores where Christian parents typically seek advice and support, as well as how they find opportunities for community and connection.
About the Research:
About the Research:
840 Christian Parents
USA
At least one child 5-12 years old
Data collected in February 2024
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
Parents’ Faith
Although all parents in the survey identified as Christian, only 1 in 3 (33%) fit the Committed Construct.
When it comes to reading the Bible, 41% of Christian parents said they never read their Bible, or read it only several times a year.
One out of three (34%) parents said they are not currently attending church
When asked about their faith-related interactions with their children, only 1 in 3 parents (34%) felt they were in a good place. For parenting support and advice, 62% of parents told us they first turn to their own family, such as their parents, siblings, or other relatives.
Equipping Parents
When asked about a resource that supports both their own faith development and their child's, 61% of parents said they would be open to it.
When asked about their community, only 37% of parents said they have access to an in-person parenting community. 36% said they don’t have access but would like to.
70% of parents told us that given the opportunity to meet with other parents monthly, they would do so.
This research provides valuable insight into the realities of Christian parenting today. Like parents everywhere, US parents are doing their best to support the spiritual formation of their children.
Some families are doing well, but a significant number need help. There is a noticeable divide between nominal and committed Christian parents in their own faith practices as well as their participation in those practices with their children. What is true for all parents is that they desire community. Parents go to family, friends and in-person relationships for support and advice.
As we think about supporting families seeking to parent well in today’s world, how can the Church provide much needed community support? This report provides valuable insight as to what potential on-ramps might look like using topics that parents are already seeking.
Report also available on Family Matters site here: https://familymatters.onehope.net/home
About:
About:
Cultivate is OneHope’s internship program that offers young adults the opportunity to engage with and contribute to various teams within the organization. The summer 2024 cohort included twenty-one interns from all over the United States and several international students as well. This cohort was one of the largest and most diverse groups that Cultivate has hosted, encompassing a wide range of educational and cultural backgrounds.
Halfway through the internship, a survey was conducted with all twenty-one interns to evaluate their experience and development to that point.
Overall, the internship was described as an uplifting and transformative experience. Here are some of the findings we discovered through the survey.
Key Findings:
Key Findings:
The interns were mainly attracted to this program because they wanted to use their professional skills in a Christian non-profit environment.
Most interns said they liked the people and the mission of the organization the most.
90% of the interns said the internship helped them reach their original goals.
Many interns noted that being part of a Christ-centered community helped their spiritual growth during the internship.
Some interns mentioned that they would like more chances to connect with OneHope staff.
Read the full report here.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
That's it for this edition of the Research Radar! If you have any questions about the research featured here contact us at research@onehope.net
Know of an interesting research study, article, or book we should be reading? Send it our way! We would love to take a look for a future edition of the radar.
In this edition:
In this edition:
Good research always cites its sources–and so do we! Here are the articles and authors featured in this edition of the Research Radar:
“Family Faith & Resources: Understanding the Faith Practices of Christian Parents in the United States.” 2024. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1irIdoZUS0maTUblE4dXPqOVNli_tPZQL/view?usp=drive_link.
Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Penguin Press, 2024.
Kjesbo, Denise Muir, Shelley Henning, and Luz Gálvez de Figueroa. Partnering Church and Home: Discipleship for the Next Generation. Independently published, 2024.
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