Canada's children with worshipping and non-worshipping parents:

Profiles of French and other Roman Catholics, liberal and conservative Christians, and children of English, French, Irish and Scottish origins, 2001

January/March 2007

                                                                      ·  index  ·  main paper (585 KB, 111 p.); appendix 2 - tables (448 KB, 197 p.)

Abstract

        This study provides evidence regarding the basic assumptions that worship frequency is positively related to human and spiritual capital, and worship has a positive impact on family environment for children. We assume that capital is greater if the parent:

  1. Is female, as women tend to be more spiritual than men, and committed to the well-being of their children - the data support the basic assumption.
  2. Is older, since experience and human and spiritual capital accumulate over time - assumption supported.
  3. Has more children, a parent's most precious resource, assumption supported.
  4. Is affiliated with a more conservative and spiritual faith community, as these emphasize more traditional family and parental values - assumption supported.
  5. Is married rather than having another, less committed, marital status - assumption supported.
  6. Is better educated, thus better informed, along with the spouse, if present - assumption weakly supported.
  7. Is a more committed reader, and therefore better informed - assumption supported.
  8. Is an immigrant, therefore screened for high human capital, and highly committed to acquiring healthy Canadian values - assumption supported.
  9. Is physically healthier; physical health is a dimension of human capital - assumption neither supported nor refuted.
  10. Has higher income, and less worry over the adequacy of finances, which in part reflects human capital - assumption neither supported nor refuted.
  11. Owns the dwelling, which reflects the financial fruits of human capital - assumption supported.
       Secondly, children will be more likely to live in a healthier home environment, the more frequent the worship of the parent - healthier in many ways, all in part the assumed effects of regular worship:
  1. The parent and spouse (if present) will be less likely to smoke or drink heavily - assumption supported.
  2. The home will function better in terms of communication and planning of family activities - assumption supported.
  3. The home will have less need for seeking the help of counselors, and especially better access to religious advisors - assumption supported.
  4. The emphasis of the parent will be on caring rather than on paid work - assumption weakly supported.
  5. The parent will be more likely to volunteer in the community - assumption supported; and less likely to work on weekends - assumption weakly supported.
       The importance of other factors unrelated to our assumptions are also commented on: region, ethnic origin, language, and occupation. Weekly worship rates vary greatly. Models that analyze the quality of home life according to the various indicators explored in this study by means of tables and charts, should incorporate the main factors revealed in the tables, plus the region, ethnic origin, language and occupation factors.