What are the changes, trends and issues across age groups?
Single adult Christians experience major changes at church at the ages of 30, 45 and 60. After testing different age points, it became statistically clear that these are the change points for single Christians in their expectations and experience of their faith and their churches.
We also found some general trends through the four age groups <30, 30-44, 45-59. 60+. While some were expected, such as fewer reporting working extra hours to fill in time and saying they become less worried about the future, others came as a surprise. For example, the older the age group, the less they felt part of their church family and increasingly think that single people outside the church would have trouble coming.
The research revealed a number of specific issues for different age groups. In particular, Christians aged <30 and 30-44 say that being on their own has made them struggle with their faith.
Major changes experienced at different ages
There are differences in attitude, views and behaviour between single adult Christians of different ages.
Major changes occur at 30, 45 and 60
We tested if, and at which age points, any differences emerge. We started looking at bands starting 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and so on. It would, for example, have been convenient to have tied results to the official UK National Statistics 10-year age bands.
However, statistical analysis shows that there are four clear main groups (<30, 30-44, 45-59 and 60+), with changes of attitude and behaviour happening at ages 30, 45 and 60.
Known factors
One can speculate about these particular points in relation to singleness, but some known factors are as follows.
- The average age of first marriage in UK is 30 (slightly more for a man, slightly less for a woman). So, someone single will move from being in the majority to being in the minority at this point.
- The age of 45 has two possible reasons for being distinctive:
- Firstly, is it is the time when most women know that they are unlikely to have children.
- Secondly, it coincides with men's dip in level of well-being – the so-called mid-life crisis.
- The age of 60 was until recently the UK retirement age for working women and also reported to be the time when both genders start making preparations for post-working life.
Although there are many general trends – some unexpected – through age, there are also specific changes that occur at 30, 45 and 60.
We first look at the general trends across the four different age bands and then consider the specific issues that appear.
General trends through the age groups
There are some general trends across the age groups. Some trends are ones that increase over time, others decrease:
- A gradual drift away from emerging, student and city/town-centre churches
- Single Christians feel less part of their church community as they get older
- Changes in views about singleness
- Trends in thinking about marriage
A gradual drift away from emerging, student and city/town-centre churches
The numbers attending emerging churches/alternative worship and student-focused churches both decline gradually.
However, even in the 60+ group, over 1 in 20 say they attend an emerging church and just under 1 in 20 say they attend a student-focused church.
They also move gradually away from city/town-centre churches, from 5 in 10 to 4 in 10.
Age groups attending emerging churches
Age groups attending student focused churches
Age groups attending city or town centre churches
Single Christians feel less part of their church community as they get older
* Single adult Christians are (on average) positive about feeling part of the church community. This declines over time, however, with a drop at the age of 30.
* In parallel to this, as single Christians get older they think that single people outside the church find problems going to church just because they are single.
* Older age groups increasingly think that married people should take the main lead in addressing needs and issues of singleness.
* Decreasingly think that Christian organisations outside individual churches should do so.
* Increasingly feel that their own church can encourage single members by having singles in leadership roles.
I feel part of the church community
Positivity on feeling part of the church community
Do you think that single people outside the church find particular problems about Christianity or to going to church simply because they are single?
Who do you feel is responsible for addressing the needs of single Christians and reaching out to single people outside of the church? Married people on the church
Who do you feel is responsible for addressing the needs of single Christians and reaching out to single people outside of the church? Christian organisations outside of individual churches
How do you feel your own church could better encourage its single members?
General trends through the age groups about singleness
* Many single people work extra hours at least once each week to fill in the time, but this steadily decreases.
* The enjoyment of the freedom to make their own choices reduces over time.
* They become less worried about the future.
* They have fewer problems with self-esteem.
Working extra hours to fill time
Being single I enjoy...The freedom to make my own choices
I am worried about my future
I have problems with self-esteem
Trends in thinking about marriage
* Being married as the expected and accepted lifestyle of the church reduces as people age.
* There is also a reported decline in hearing church leaders teach that Christians should only marry those who share their faith.
* The older age groups think that the best way to meet potential partners is through organised events and holidays.
Being married is the expected and accepted lifestyle in the church
Positivity on being married as the expected and accepted lifestyle of the church
Have you heard your church leader(s) teach that Christians should only marry those who share their faith?
Best way to meet potential partners: Through organised events and holidays
Specific issues for different age groups
< 45 years
* More than any other age group, Christians aged
* In particular the disappointment of being single has caused them to doubt God has a plan for their lives.
* It is the age group that says it would help to have more teaching, guidance or study materials to understand their faith in the context of being single.
Being on my own has made me struggle with my faith
Positivity on 'Being on my own has made me struggle with my faith'
At times the disappointment of being single has caused me to doubt God has a plan for my life
Positivity on 'At times the disappointment of being single has caused me to doubt God has a plan for my life'
Would it help to have some more teaching, guidance or study materials to help you understand your faith in the context of being single?
30-60 years
* More Christians aged 30-60 agree than disagree that they feel as if there is a presumption there must be something wrong with them because they are single.
* They socialise less than the under 30s and over 60s.
It feels as if there is presumption that there must be something wrong with me because I am single
Positivity on feeling as if there is a presumption that there must be something wrong with me because I am single
Socialising generally
45-60 years
* Christians aged 45-60 particularly say that they feel less accepted members of the congregation because they are single.
* However, as singles, they do enjoy the aspect of having a more peaceful home life than other age groups do.
* They participate in hobbies or sports once a week far less than others.
I feel that I am a less accepted member of the congregation because I am single
Positivity on feeling a less accepted member of the congregation because single
A more peaceful home life
Hobbies or sports
45-60+ years
* At the age of 45 and over, more people agree than disagree that the church says it is a family but doesn’t treat singles as family members.
* They start to enjoy less the benefits of independence in singleness than those of younger ages.
* However, they more report they have fewer problems with self-esteem than younger age groups.
* Fewer report that being on their own has made them struggle with their faith.
The church says it is a family but does not treat singles as family members
Positivity on treating singles as family members
Having my independence
I have problems with self-esteem
Positivity on having problems with self-esteem
Being on my own has made me struggle with my faith
60+ years
* Up to the age of 60, more people agree than disagree that they are worried about the future. This reverses at 60, when more report as being less worried.
* The disappointment of being single causing them to doubt God has a plan for their lives also changes, with fewer agreeing with this for the first time through the age groups.
I am worried about my future
Positivity on being worried about the future
At times the disappointment of being single has caused me to doubt God has a plan for my life