A Barna briefing produced in partnership with Aspen Group

The Value of Moms

Though she never received a formal education, Susanna Wesley demonstrated to her 10 children a deep devotion to Christ, a commitment to education and a steadfast dedication to worship. Wesley made sure all of her children were educated in Latin, Greek and classical studies, as well as arithmetic. When her (absent) husband’s church failed to provide robust biblical teaching, Wesley began her own Sunday afternoon worship services for her children, eventually welcoming friends and neighbors to the gathering. She wrote devotionals and spent much of her life reflecting on her own need for Christ, while encouraging her children to do the same. Although she never preached a sermon or published her devotionals, today Susanna Wesley is considered the “Mother of Methodism,” as she served as an influential role model of faith for her sons John and Charles Wesley.

This is just one of the many examples of the significant influence mothers can have on their children and community—and the power of this influence, especially for Christian moms. A 2014 study published in Communication Monographs found that just 15 minutes of talking with their mother about a difficult situation could increase a daughter’s positivity around the situation over time, suggesting that such conversations can help daughters reframe difficult experiences. In a 2019 study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, researchers found that “positive interactions with a mom within a child’s first 16 years were associated with staying in school longer, having better episodic memory and better marital satisfaction in adulthood.” This influence also extends to family income, financial decision-making and philanthropy. According to Forbes, “women make up to 83 percent of purchasing decisions in households across the U.S.” and have a spending power of $2.4 trillion. Barna’s 2023 report The Impact of Women (produced in partnership with Women Doing Well) also tells us that half of U.S. adults (49%) say their mother has been the best example of generosity in their life.

For the Christian home, a mother’s impact runs deep. Barna’s 2019 study of household rhythms and practices found that Christian teens consistently identify their mother as the principal housemate for almost all activities, from eating meals together to working through confrontations, watching TV or movies as a family, and talking about God. And this influence doesn’t end when a child grows up; many adults tell Barna they continue to rely on their mothers as sources of strength, compassion and wisdom as they get older.