Teenagers in the United States who begin to doubt their religion often look to people they trust, according to new survey data. The research, conducted in mid-2025 by the Fuller Youth Institute, polled nearly 3,000 people aged 13 to 17. Ryan Burge, a political scientist and American Baptist pastor, analyzed some of the results for a newsletter readership.
What the Survey Found
The Fuller Youth Institute asked young people detailed questions about their faith, their doubts and their relationships. Burge says he focused on a small set of questions that shed light on how teens face big questions about life. He says relationships appear to play a key role in helping members of Generation Alpha work through their struggles.
Surveys of American religion usually cover only adults aged 18 and older. Researchers rarely poll minors because of ethical and legal limits. That makes this study an unusual look at younger people. Burge says it offers a view of the future, though only a partial one.
The Fuller team has published a full research report. Burge worked with the institute to examine the data more closely.
Why It Matters
Many observers ask whether a religious revival is coming, or whether faith is changing in how it is understood and practiced by younger people. Burge says this question comes up often from people who follow American religion. Teen data can help answer it, because adult surveys cannot show what young people think.
The study builds on the wider work of the Fuller Youth Institute, which focuses on how young people develop faith. Burge is an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. His research looks at religiosity and political behavior in the United States. He co-founded Religion in Public, a forum that presents scholarly work on religion and politics to general readers.
What to Watch
Burge's analysis is a first look at the data. Readers can read the full Fuller report for more detail. Researchers and church leaders will likely study how teens describe their doubts and the people who help them. The findings may shape how churches and families support young believers.
