Are Happiness and Life Satisfaction Different Across Religious groups? Exploring Determinants of Happiness and Life Satisfaction

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study explores whether different religions experience different levels of happiness and life satisfaction and in case this is affected by country economic and cultural environment. Using World Value Survey (from 1981 to 2014), this study found that individual religiosity and country level of development play a significant role in shaping people’s subjective well-being (SWB). Protestants, Buddhists and Roman Catholic were happier and most satisfied with their lives compared to other religious groups. Orthodox has the lowest SWB. Health status, household’s financial satisfaction and freedom of choice are means by which religious groups and governments across the globe can improve the SWB of their citizens.
Keywords: happiness; life satisfaction; religion; religious differences; culture
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-22
Number of pages22
JournalJournal of religion and health
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Aug 2017

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s) 2017

Keywords

  • happiness; life satisfaction; religion; religious differences; culture

Cite this