Young adults today are less likely to affiliate themselves with a religion than their parents and older generations, revealing a growing acceptance among youth of less traditional lifestyles.

A new Pew Research study found that 26 percent of Millennials -- or those ages 18-30 -- said they were unaffiliated with a religious tradition.

That's compared to 21 percent of Generation Xers (those ages 31-46), 15 percent among Baby Boomers, and just 10 percent of the Silent Generation (those ages 66-83).

The Pew survey, released Thursday, was meant to analyze possible voting trends among various age groups in the 2012 election.

Questions covered a variety of issues that affect voting, from values and religion to government trust and party affiliation.

Across the board, researchers noticed a "greater acceptance of diversity among young people."

Pew found that during the past 15 years, a growing percentage of all generations are supporting gay marriage.

Yet, Millennials seem to be most accepting of homosexuality, with nearly 60 percent of them favoring gay marriage. Only about 33 percent of Silents, the oldest generation surveyed, support gay marriage. Millennials are also far less likely to be married than earlier generations were at their age.

There were "deep generational divides" between generations when it came to government.

More Millennials -- about 56 percent -- prefer a bigger government with more services.

Generation X was divided on the issue, with 47 percent favoring smaller government and 45 percent opposing.

Overall, only 2 percent of Americans say they can trust the government to do what's right most of the time.

Among Boomers and Generation X, there are far more conservatives than liberals.

In the 2012 Election, most Millennials said they favor President Barack Obama.

Obama's support, however, has slipped across all generations, compared to the 2004 election season.