Spirituality and religiousness: Emerging predictors of happiness

Pages: 490-494
Sankul Gaur (The IIS University, Gurukul Marg, SFS, Mansarovar, Jaipur, Rajasthan)

There is a time-honored interest in the literature connecting the ideas of religiosity, spirituality and happiness. The beneficial effects of spirituality with regard to individual well-being have been documented in different populations. Thus spirituality has emerged as a major predictor of happiness in the contemporary era. A systematic review of 33 studies (2000-2016) on spirituality, religiosity and happiness was conducted. Two major approaches to study the relationship between spirituality and happiness were classified: 1) studies emphasizing the negative or antagonistic relation between spirituality and negative emotional states. 2) Studies emphasizing the positive relationship between spirituality, happiness and well-being. Majority of the well-conducted studies found that higher levels of spiritual and religious involvement are positively associated with indicators of psychological well-being, happiness and lowered negative emotions. It was manifested that spiritual involvement is usually associated with enhanced well-being and happiness.