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Religious involvement and subjective well-being.

C G Ellison1

  • 1Duke University.

Journal of Health and Social Behavior
|March 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Religious certainty directly enhances subjective well-being, including life satisfaction and happiness. Religious attendance and private devotion indirectly boost well-being by strengthening faith, with variations across denominations.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology of Religion

Background:

  • Previous research indicates religious involvement positively correlates with subjective well-being.
  • The precise mechanisms linking religiosity and well-being require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the direct and indirect pathways between religious involvement and subjective well-being.
  • To examine the role of religious certainty and existential certainty in life satisfaction and happiness.
  • To explore denominational differences in well-being outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of survey data on religious practices, beliefs, and subjective well-being indicators.
  • Statistical modeling to assess direct and indirect effects of religiosity dimensions.
  • Examination of moderating effects of age and education on the religion-well-being link.

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Main Results:

  • The positive effects of religious attendance and private devotion on well-being are primarily indirect, mediated by religious belief systems.
  • Religious certainty demonstrates a direct and substantial positive influence on life satisfaction, personal happiness, and resilience to trauma.
  • Existential certainty significantly enhances life satisfaction, particularly for older adults and those with lower educational attainment.
  • Nondenominational Protestants, liberal Protestants, and members of nontraditional religious groups report higher life satisfaction than unaffiliated individuals, independent of other religiosity measures.

Conclusions:

  • Religious certainty is a key direct driver of subjective well-being.
  • Religious practices contribute to well-being indirectly by reinforcing religious certainty.
  • Specific religious affiliations are associated with higher life satisfaction, suggesting unique group dynamics or beliefs.