The Religious Component of Happiness- A Cross-Country Analysis

Our study assessed the extent to which various religion-related factors (believing, belonging and religious activity), demographic variables and satisfaction with family life explain happiness and whether the association differs between different countries and among believers of different religions. Using data from the ISSP conducted in 2018, regression analyses of 15 countries from different continents, with different dominant religions and different level of religiosity revealed that factors influencing the sense of happiness of the members of a given society differs from country to country. The factors related to religion have significant influence on happiness only in Asian countries- however different factors in different countries. It also changed which demographic variables had significant effect on the level of happiness. However, in the countries where they did have an influence, they followed the same patterns. The most important explaining factor of happiness was satisfaction with family life everywhere. Differences in the happiness level of believers of different religions within country have been found, but did not form simple patterns. In less religious countries, there were no differences at all in happiness levels according to religious affiliation. Because the role of religion in a given society and the relationship between various denominations are different, the impact of certain elements of religiosity on happines is also different in different countries. There is no such thing as a general religious effect on happiness.