Americans who regularly engage with the Bible are more likely to have a strong sense of purpose and report higher levels of wellbeing, according to a new study
The findings, published in the latest chapter of the State of the Bible: USA 2026 report by the American Bible Society, suggest people who engage with Scripture are more satisfied with life and more confident in their sense of calling
“People with a strong sense of calling flourish more – and Scripture is at the heart of that connection,” said Dr John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society’s Chief Innovation Officer and editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible series
“Americans who regularly engage with the Bible are also the most confident in their life calling.”
The report is published as separate research suggests many Americans are struggling with purpose. A recent survey found nearly one-third of adults are experiencing an existential crisis, rising to more than half of Generation Z respondents. Many cited career instability and feeling powerless over their problems as key factors
The American Bible Society study is based on more than 2,600 online and telephone interviews with adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, conducted between 8 and 27 January 2026
It found that 54 per cent of people with a strong sense of calling also scored highly on overall human flourishing, compared with 15 per cent of those without a strong sense of purpose
The report also found that Americans who regularly engage with Scripture maintain significantly higher levels of wellbeing during periods of grief, job loss or serious illness than those who do not regularly read the Bible
