The Effect of Christian Persecution on Children's Wellbeing

CHARLESTON, S.C. - May 7, 2019 - PRLog -- Protecting and providing opportunities to potentially vulnerable individuals marks a compassionate society. Recent data by Teleios Research showed that populations in countries with greater freedom, which typically are historically Christian, demonstrated better overall wellbeing, and other legal, educational, and social measures that could enhance wellbeing, than in countries that persecute Christians.

In this current study Teleios Research evaluated measures that could affect wellbeing of children specifically (ages 0-19). For our analysis we used the top 50 countries from the Human Freedom Index compared to the 50 top countries persecuting Christianity from the Open Doors 2018 World Watch List (https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/).

This study found that children in the freest countries, compared to countries that persecute Christians, demonstrate the highest wellbeing rating (thriving; 23% vs.18%).

Further, children in freer countries also showed better scores in each measure analyzed that potentially could affect wellbeing (free countries' values listed first): life expectancy (79 vs. 71 years), infant mortality rate (5 vs. 28 per 1,000), under-five mortality rate (6 vs. 37 per 1,000), adolescent birth rate (21 vs. 52 per 1,000), years in school (16 vs.12 years), immunization coverage (92% vs. 87%), birth registration (100% vs. 79%), child homicide (1 vs. 3 per 100,000), violence in schools (32% vs. 40%), and tertiary school enrollment (64% vs. 26%; P ≤ 0.013 for each comparison).

Further, of the top 50 countries on the Human Freedom Index, 35 were listed as Christian countries by the Central Intelligence Agency versus 4 of the persecuting countries (P < 0.01).

This study suggests that children in countries that are most free not only demonstrate better wellbeing but these nations overwhelmingly are associated with numerous legal, security, health, and educational measures potentially associated with enhanced wellbeing for children. Further, free countries are much more likely to be historically Christian.

In contrast, countries who persecute Christians are a marker for governments that treat their children poorly in general.

Other findings from Teleios Research are on our website (http://www.teleiosresearch.com/).

WC Stewart, AC Kleinhans, JA Stewart, LA Nelson

About Teleios - Teleios is a non-profit foundation that seeks to demonstrate the truth of scripture and the Christian faith through scientific methods by providing evidence for the positive results of a biblically-based lifestyle. Prior studies conducted by Teleios have shown that the practice of the Christian faith (praise, prayer, fellowship, service and Bible study) and security of salvation increases well-being while reducing guilt.