The Association Between Spirituality/Religiosity and Well-Being in Young, Middle and Old Age in Switzerland

Abstract

In contemporary literature, religiosity and spirituality are increasingly being recognized as important aspects of well-being. Spirituality and religiosity are multifaceted and highly interrelated constructs. In this chapter, we focus on two aspects: First, we explore the importance of religiosity and spirituality in the life of the participants of the Hope-Barometer 2015 by comparing groups of different demographic backgrounds (i.e., age groups, gender). Second, we investigate the associations between religiosity/spirituality on the one hand, and subjective and physical well-being on the other. Based on these results and further analyses, interesting insights into the role of religion and spirituality in the life of persons of different age stages can be gained. The chapter further discusses how religiosity and spirituality can play an important role in the context of critical life events and the adaptation to profound life transitions.