Research Note: Characteristics of US Adults Who Attend Multiple Congregations: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey

Abstract

While most prior research assumes that if someone attends religious services, they only attend at one place of worship, a handful of studies suggest that some individuals do regularly attend multiple congregations. This paper seeks to answer the following questions: What percentage of U.S. adults who attend religious services attend multiple congregations? What are the socio-demographic and religious characteristics of those who attend multiple congregations and how do they compare to those who only attend one congregation? What are the reasons for attending additional congregations? And, how do the congregational activities of multiple attenders compare to those who only attend one congregation? We examine these research questions using a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults conducted in 2023. Most American adults who attend religious services attend multiple congregations at least occasionally. Comparing those who always attend services at the same congregation to those who attend multiple congregations, we found that they differ in terms of education, marital status, political ideology, sexual identity, religious identity, and overall religious service attendance. This paper provides interesting insights into the religious and socio-demographic profile of U.S. adults who attend multiple congregations.