A new report has revealed that young adults in Britain are turning to religion not as an inherited tradition, but as a personal pathway to emotional wellbeing and self-discovery.

According to The Next Generation of Faith: Journeys, Meaning and Wellbeing report by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), faith among 18–34 year olds has become less about social belonging and more about finding healing, purpose and mental health support.

Research author Rania Mohiuddin-Agir said the findings show a “profound paradigm shift” in how younger generations approach belief and spirituality.

The report found that four in ten young adults who embraced or changed their faith did so seeking “personal transformation or healing”, while over one in four identified mental health as a key part of their faith journey. Of those, more than half reported a deepening faith experience.

In contrast, older generations continued to view religion as a source of social stability and moral guidance. Younger adults were also twice as likely to leave their faith due to intellectual disagreements or clashes with personal values.

The study suggested that faith for many 18-34 year olds is now “a personal experience, rather than social experience” which is shaped by emotional resilience rather than tradition.