Australians' spiritual practices in a year of crisis 2020
Life changed significantly for Australians in 2020, with bushfires, floods and then the COVID-19 pandemic. Many church services went online, people stayed home and zoom meetings became commonplace.
In this context, we asked Australians about their experiences of stress, wellbeing, spirituality and church, in the 2020 Australian Community Survey.
Nearly seven in 10 Australians say that spirituality is important in personal wellbeing, in the context of events including bushfires and COVID-19. The greatest stressors listed are family relationships and social isolation.
Just under half of Australians report personally drawing on spiritual practices during the year, with 15% of those people increasing the level of their practice in 2020. While fewer Australians participated in religious services after March 2020 than before, a moderate proportion of Australians engaged in other spiritual practices.
Spending time in nature or outdoors; listening to music; and praying and meditating are the spiritual practices of most appeal.
As we approach Christmas, around four in ten Australians say they are open to being invited to church by family and friends.
2020 Australian Community Survey findings video series
Australians' spiritual profile, sources of stress, importance of spiritual practices and openness to church.
Australians' openness to being invited to church
Around four in ten Australians are open to being invited to church
2020 Australian Community Survey Vox Pops
Video interviews of Australians: their spirituality and attitudes to being invited to church.
Australian spirituality in the year of crisis 2020
Did Australians draw on spiritual practices more or less during this year of crisis 2020?
Spiritual practices that appeal to Australians
Nature, music, prayer and meditation are Australians' preferred spiritual practices.
Stressors, isolation and support in 2020
Australians enduring stress of pandemic and natural disasters
