Young adults who attend church report having less anxiety, depression, and overall improved mental health than non-churchgoers.

"The Connected Generation" is a project run in partnership with Barna and World Vision which surveyed 15,369, 18-35 year-olds in nine different languages across 25 countries.

"We wanted to get a global understanding of 18-35-year-olds and what they perceive to be the challenges they face," World Vision UK CEO Tim Pilkington told Christian Today. The results were staggering. 

The study shows that 51% of Christians said they felt 'optimistic about the future' whereas only 34% of those with no faith echoed those feelings. 

Arielle McCaffrey, a 24-year-old religion major says, "Christians feel optimistic about their future because the Bible is full of God promising us a good life (at least in Heaven). We can hold on to the fact that even if we aren't ultra-successful in our future endeavours that God will reward us and make us perfect in the end, so, we are given purpose."

"It gives us a hope and perspective that helps our overall mental health."

The study also found that those with no faith reported feeling more sad and depressed (28%) than practicing Christians (18%). McCaffery believes it's all based on the amount of community church provides that uplifts those struggling.

When it comes to anxiety, those who attend church regularly were less likely (22%) to say they experienced it, in comparison to those who do not attend church weekly (33%).

"It doesn't surprise me, because the message of Jesus is one of hope and care. When a Christian is in a tough time they can remember that God will bring them through it and make them stronger. When anxiety comes, you can begin to tell yourself how much God cares for you. When we pair these together, it gives us a hope and perspective that helps our overall mental health, says Roberta Roslund, a 26-year-old registered social worker. 

Another notable finding is that one-third of those with no faith said they were lonely and isolated while only 16% of Christians reported that. 

Leaders of the project say "the reality is that members of this age cohort are hardly “the next generation” anymore. Newcomers no longer, they are a formidable force, actively shaping the future of our workplaces, media, politics, arts, neighbourhoods, and, yes, churches."

This survey is one of the largest of its kind and has provided many enlightenments on a variety of issues young adults face today.