Running Away, Religion, and Family Structure: Is Your Child a Flight Risk?

By Anna Dorminey, Staff

From our latest Mapping America publication (111: "Ever Run Away" by Current Religious Attendance and Structure of Family of Origin):

Adolescents from intact married families who worship at least weekly have an average runaway rate of 4 percent. By contrast, youth from all other family structures who never attend religious services have the highest average runaway rate, 15 percent. 11 percentage points is a significant difference! For more on the benefits of marriage and weekly worship, view MARRI's other published Mapping Americas.