Changes in Moral Belief Among Sixth-Form Boys and Girls Over a Seven-Year Period in Relation to Religious Belief, age and sex Difference

The results of replicating a survey first conducted in 1963 show highly significant changes in the moral beliefs of sixth-form boys & girls in grammar schools in England. Current results show that religious beliefs & activities were inversely associated with attitudes toward gambling, drunkenness, premarital sex, suicide, drug use, & to a lesser extent, smoking, lying & stealing. However, compared to the 1963 results, the current results indicate an increasing permissiveness to these behaviors regardless of religious attitudes. (7 refs)