Posted by:
athreehourbore
(
)
Date: July 17, 2011 11:31PM
Hi guys, I've been plugging away at analyzing and summarizing the data from the Exmormon Survey and have two more items to reveal and discuss. These figures are based on the answers from 537 people who saw it announced on popular NOM/Exmormon Sites.
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How old were you at the time your disaffection began?
15 and Under 4.12%
16-20 14.31%
21-25 16.08%
26-30 18.24%
31-35 15.10%
36-40 13.53%
41-45 7.25%
46-50 6.67%
51-55 3.12%
56-60 1.18%
61 and Older 0.20%
Median Age: 30.5 years
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Points:
I recognize that it's hard to pin down the exact time your disaffection began. Some folks mentioned that, and I get it. But for most there was still at least a year of their life where it progressed to the point of desiring/needing a change.
Something about those youngsters! I forget where Generation X ends and Y begins, but my guesses as to why more people leave when younger is:
-More internet-savvy
-Less to lose by leaving
-Culture of skepticism
-Culture of getting facts from google
-Still seeking to define oneself
-More stressed? (for me at least--Married, toddlers, active, stressed, wondering "Is THIS all there is?")
-Any guesses WHY these answers are what they are?
And, what does this MEAN for the success of "sharing the un-gospel?" I know I'll be entering more specific age ranges in when advertising the book on Facebook :)
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How long ago did your disaffection begin?
< 1 year ago: 4%
1 Year ago: 11%
2 years ago: 16%
3 years ago: 16%
4 years ago: 8%
5 years ago: 7%
6-10 years ago: 15%
11-15 years ago: 9%
16-50 years ago: 14%
Median: Disaffection Began 4 years, 2 months ago
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Points:
I was surprised that fewer folks' disaffection began less than a year ago. But, FYI, <1 Year ago really means <6 months, 1 year ago means 6-18 months ago, etc. It's just how the answers were collected and I don't feel like fixing it yet, just so you know. So it might be 7-8%.
Interesting drop-off after 3.5 years. My hunch is that recovery is a lifelong processm even after "moving on," but the first 3 years are the most intense, and these boards' active membership is mostly comprised of people in the first 5 years or fewer. After that, my guess is most "move on" but some stick around to offer support much longer.
So whoever buys this book is going to be most affected positively if they get it during that 3-year window of time. We might have guessed this from experience, but I'm happy to have confirmed our assumptions or at least having something to work with.
Any guesses WHY these answers are what they are?
And again, what can we as a community DO with this information?