Springtide Research Institute

Listening today. Learning for tomorrow. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, we deliver accessible social-scientific research on young people ages 13-25.

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

When we asked young people about barriers to thinking about and planning for the future, they most frequently mention financial concerns. Respondents describe concerns about paying for college, finding stable employment, and earning enough income. Read: https://t.co/hm4U7UOOij

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

We find that most young people already have some sense of their life’s purpose. Three-quarters (75%) of young people say they have at least some idea of what they are meant to do in life, including 20% who say they are certain about it. Read more: https://t.co/O4urq9bF6H

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Who helps young people discover their purpose in life? Over half (55%) of respondents say that teachers have moderately or significantly influenced their thinking about the future. Get more data: https://t.co/O4urq9bF6H

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

In 2025, we surveyed over 3,500 young people to examine how they discover a sense of purpose. In this report, you’ll learn how trusted adults can accompany teens and young adults as they reflect on what they are meant to do in life. Download the report: https://t.co/mv9SrxKugP

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

When we surveyed #GenAlpha teens in 2024, almost all respondents (99%) said they use social media at least sometimes. Most commonly, they reported daily use of YouTube (82%), TikTok (65%), and Snapchat (51%). Read: https://t.co/yrswn2z2pa

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

In January 2024, we asked the oldest members of Gen Alpha about their social media usage. These teens said they use social media for a variety of reasons, but most commonly, they used it because their friends used it (65%). Read more: https://t.co/yrswn2z2pa

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Our researchers found that two-thirds (66%) of young people agree or strongly agree that the Church should expand opportunities for women to participate in decision-making.

Read more about young Catholic's thoughts on gender roles: https://t.co/KvgFKSj6GL

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Catholic youth most commonly cite family tradition as the reason why they continue to identify as Catholic. Respondents whose mothers currently identify as Catholic are more likely to identify as Catholic and say they expect to remain Catholic. Read: https://t.co/KvgFKSj6GL

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Our researchers found that 42% of former young Catholics stopped identifying as such before turning 13, and 87% disaffiliated by age 18. Most say it is unlikely they will ever identify as Catholic again.

Read more: https://t.co/KvgFKSj6GL

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

In our newly published study, race/ethnicity emerges as the strongest predictor of Catholic disaffiliation among young people.

Get more data on current and former Catholic young people: https://t.co/KvgFKSj6GL

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

We asked Catholic young people why they continue to identify or practice as Catholic. This word cloud visualizes the most frequently used terms in respondents’ open-ended responses. Get more data https://t.co/67O4CPDP47

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Springtide surveyed over 1,000 young people to document patterns in Catholic (dis)affiliation, relationships, and practice. In this report, you’ll find insights into the identities and behaviors of Catholic teens and young adults. Read the report: https://t.co/J2r3tT1xLx

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

When asked about how important religion is in their lives, almost half of our respondents say it is among the most important things or the most important thing in their life. Read more: https://t.co/9KStzQqBL8

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Building a sense of belonging in religious spaces matters; what happens when the community feels temporary? Our research shows peers are key to engagement in religious spaces, and their absence can leave young people feeling disconnected.

Read more: https://t.co/9KStzQqBL8

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Family members play an essential role in the development of religious identity and involvement for young people. Almost two-thirds of the young people in our study continue to identify with the religious tradition in which they were raised.

Learn more: https://t.co/9KStzQqBL8

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Why do some young people stay involved with religious or spiritual organizations? Our researchers discovered that religious involvement often grows from three interconnected influences: parents, peers, and personal belief.

Find out more: https://t.co/9KStzQqBL8

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Our research finds that religious young people tend to volunteer more frequently than their non-religious peers. Get more data: https://t.co/RSYQhVp5Bs

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Join us on Thursday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m. ET for a free webinar on how to cultivate and strengthen belonging within your school. Learn how educators, principals and administrators can help students flourish. Sign up for free: https://t.co/KDIs2CsJ8e

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Our 2025 data highlight various motivations for why teens and young adults engage in volunteer work. The most common reasons are that they enjoy it (46%) and it feels good to help others (42%).

Find out more about why young people volunteer: https://t.co/W4lmuL9XIg

[Springtide Research Institute @WeAreSpringtide]

Our research finds that young adults attend religious services less often than teens. Nearly half of teens, ages 13 to 17, attend religious services at least monthly, compared with about one-third of young adults, ages 18 to 25. Get more data: https://t.co/tNauRWA4Pt