Religiosity, subjective well-being, and anxiety in a sample of Indian university students

Abstract EN

Introduction : The present study sought to explore the associations of religiosity with subjective well-being and anxiety among an Indian sample of young adults.

Method : A sample of 400 (200 men and 200 women) students enrolled in different colleges and universities of Uttar Pradesh Province in India was recruited.

Responses were in English to the following six self-rating scales: religiosity, religious belief, physical health, mental health, happiness, and satisfaction with life, as well as to self-esteem, mental health, and anxiety, optimism, and pessimism questionnaires.

Results : Women obtained significantly higher mean scores on religiosity, religious belief, physical health, mental health, and satisfaction with life than did their male counterparts.

Religiosity was significantly correlated with scales of religious belief, physical health, mental health, happiness, satisfaction with life (men) religious belief, satisfaction with life, self-esteem, optimism (positively), and anxiety (negatively) in women.

Three components were retained for men and labelled ‘Mental health versus anxiety’, ‘Religiosity and happiness’ and ‘physical and mental health’.

Among women, four components were extracted and labelled ‘Mental health and optimism’, ‘Happiness’, ‘Anxiety and pessimism’, and ‘Religiosity’.

Predictors of religiosity were religious belief and satisfaction with life (men), and religious belief, self-esteem, mental health, and optimism (women).

Conclusion : Participants who consider themselves as religious experienced greater well-being.

Religious beliefs and practices may have the potential to be integrated in the psychotherapeutic procedures in Hindu clients.