A major Queensland study of 21-year olds suggeststhat the shift away from traditional religious beliefs to new-agereligions is not making young adults happier.

The survey quizzed 3705 people on their beliefs in God, higherpowers other than God, as well as their church-going habits and otherbehaviours.

Young adults with a belief in a spiritual or higher power other thanGod were at more risk of poorer mental health and deviant socialbehaviour than those who rejected these beliefs, said study author DrRosemary Aird, a population health researcher at the University ofQueensland.

Young men who held non-traditional religious views were at twice therisk of being more anxious and depressed than those with traditionalbeliefs.

"This study suggests that new forms of religiosity demand furtherresearch attention to understand the extent that religious change islinked to population mental health and social behaviour among youngergenerations," Dr Aird said.

The research is believed to be the first in Australia to examineyoung adults' religious and spiritual thoughts, behaviour and feelings.

Dr Aird found only 8 per cent of young adults attended church once aweek, a trend linked to lower rates of antisocial behaviour among youngmen but not women.

She said individualism was the common thread in the shift away fromtraditional religious thoughts to non-religious spirituality.

"This focus on self fulfillment and improvement over others'wellbeing could undermine a person's mental health with many peoplefeeling more isolated, less healthy and having poorer relationships,"Dr Aird said.

She said so-called new spirituality promoted the idea thatself-transformation would lead to a positive and constructive change inself and society.

"But there is a contradiction," Dr Aird said.

"How can one change society if one is focused on oneself?"

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