Religious involvement and psychological well-being in the Middle East

There is growing evidence that religious involvement is associated with better mental health in Christian Western countries. Whether the same is true in Middle Eastern countries whose populations are largely Muslim is less clear. The present study examined the association between religiosity and psychological well-being in the Middle East.

This cross-sectional study involved nationally representative samples of adults aged 18 or older in Egypt (n = 3496), Tunisia (n = 3070), and Turkey (n = 3019) (Wave 1 of Middle Eastern Values Panel Study). Data on psychological well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, and optimism) were available on 8835-8886 participants. Bivariate analyses and multivariate analyses were conducted, controlling for age, gender, education, employment status, marital status, financial satisfaction, economic class, country, and Muslim religious affiliation. Interactions with gender were also examined.

Most participants (95%) reported a Muslim affiliation. Bivariate analyses indicated a positive association between overall religiosity (the primary predictor) and life satisfaction (r = .12), happiness (r = .13) and optimism (r = .19) (P < .0001). Multivariate analyses indicated a significant relationship between overall religiosity and life satisfaction (B = .046, SE = .005), happiness (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02-1.04), and optimism (B = .054, SE = .005). A significant interaction between gender and religiosity was found for life satisfaction (B = -.025, SE = .009, P = .007), such that the association was stronger in males than in females. For happiness and optimism, trends were in the same direction.

Small but significant associations between overall religiosity (beliefs and practices) and psychological well-being were found in this largely Muslim Middle Eastern sample. Prospective studies are needed to determine the causal direction of these relationships.