Global Flourishing Study — Latter-day Saint Breakdown

Abstract

Analysis of the GFS U.S. data filtered to Latter-day Saint respondents, comparing depression, happiness, attendance, and childhood relationship measures against other religious groups.

Findings for Latter-day Saints

• LDS reported one of the lowest depression rates (8.5%) — 2–3× lower than "no religion" (16%) and atheist/agnostic/never-religious (~19%).
• LDS near the top for "highly happy" (30%, vs ~11–16% for the least religious groups).
• Highest weekly attendance of any group measured (65%).
• Highest reports of feeling loved by mother and father in childhood.

Limitations in methodology

LDS subsample within U.S. GFS data carries wider margins of error; secondary analysis depends on Deseret News's slicing of the data.

Related studies

• 1999Mental HealthDepression

  Religiosity, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints

  Daniel K. Judd

• 2024PerfectionismMental Health

  Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health

  Mark D. Ogletree

Cite this study

Analysis, D. N. (2026). Global Flourishing Study — Latter-day Saint Breakdown. Deseret News / GFS U.S. data. https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/05/17/harvard-global-flourishing-study-latter-day-saints/

Deseret News Analysis. "Global Flourishing Study — Latter-day Saint Breakdown." Deseret News / GFS U.S. data, 2026. https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/05/17/harvard-global-flourishing-study-latter-day-saints/.

@article{gfs_latter_day_saint_breakdown,
  title = {Global Flourishing Study — Latter-day Saint Breakdown},
  author = {Deseret News Analysis},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {Deseret News / GFS U.S. data},
  url = {https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/05/17/harvard-global-flourishing-study-latter-day-saints/},
}