Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study measured self-reported happiness across every major American religious group. When the LDS data was disaggregated into lifelong members, converts, and former members, a clear pattern emerged.
Former LDS members reported being "very happy" at about 20%. Lifelong LDS members reported "very happy" at about 35% — nearly double the rate.
The pattern held at the broader level. Combining "very happy" and "pretty happy," about 75% of former members described themselves as happy, compared to about 85% of lifelong members. Among those reporting "not too happy," former members came in at about 25%, compared to 15% for lifelong members and just 10% for converts — meaning converts to LDS reported the lowest rates of unhappiness of any subgroup in the study.
A similar gap appeared in family life. 69% of current LDS members rated their family life as "excellent" or "very good," compared to 59% of former members.
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