Religious cognitions and well-being: A meaning perspective

Abstract

The vast majority of research on the topic of religion and well-being has focused on behaviors (e.g., service attendance, prayer), motivation (e.g., intrinsic religiousness), or inner experiences (e.g., transcendence). Instead, the present chapter focuses on the important and understudied intersection of religious beliefs and well-being. First, religious beliefs are defined and described as a central feature of meaning making systems. The relevant literature linking religious beliefs and wellbeing is reviewed and limitations of current research are discussed. A more comprehensive model is then proposed. Directions for future research conclude this chapter.