Gen Z struggles with small groups, trusts mothers most with spiritual questions: Barna

February 14, 2025

The Christian research organization Barna reports that younger generations are more likely to be wrestling with social insecurities and most often turn to their mothers for spiritual direction.

According to the Christian Post, Barna’s latest State of the Church release found that “social insecurities” and anxieties with “church people” are among Gen Z’s biggest stumbling blocks.

Barna researchers say, “Compared to older generations, younger generations are more likely to say they aren’t in a small group because they don’t think they would fit in, are intimidated, fear getting hurt and worry people wouldn’t like them.”

The report goes on to state, “These patterns are true for both men and women, though young men especially feel they wouldn’t fit in or even that people wouldn’t get along with them, while young women especially say, ‘I don’t know anyone who goes to a small group and don’t want to go alone.’”

The Christian Post reports that although recent data shows most American teenagers are “very motivated” to learn about Jesus, Gen Z may struggle with learning in small church groups because they believe they will not be welcomed.

Barna’s research found that members of Gen Z most often turn to their mothers for answers to question about faith and spirituality.

The research showed that this generation trusting the Bible (39%), their mothers (35%) and their pastors, ministers or priests (28%) with spiritual questions.

Gen Z teenagers showed a strong preference for trusting family members for spiritual guidance with 53% saying that they turn to their mothers.

Barna also reports that, “This trend extends to other authority figures, with teens being more likely than their older peers to trust pastors, their fathers or grandparents with spiritual questions.”

Researchers report that many Gen Zers lean toward self-directed spiritual learning as they get older and are more likely to trust their own judgment on faith-related matters.

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