National longitudinal evidence for growth in subjective well-being from spiritual beliefs

Abstract

Previous research finds an association between spirituality and subjective well-being. However, the widespread use of poorly defined concepts of spirituality, tautological spirituality scales, and heavy reliance on cross-sectional samples cast doubts on prior findings. Here, we leverage ten waves of panel data from a nationally diverse longitudinal study to systematically test whether having spiritual beliefs leads to growth in personal well-being and life satisfaction ( N = 3257, New Zealand, 2010–2020). Contrary to previous research, we find that belief in a spirit or life force predicts lower personal well-being and life satisfaction. However, in support of previous speculation, belief (relative to disbelief) in a spirit or life force predicts increasing personal well-being and life satisfaction over time. These findings are robust even while accounting for known demographic influences; they even hold among those who believe in a God but disbelieve in a spirit or life force. The recent growth in spiritual beliefs and decline in traditional religion across many industrial societies motivates further causal investigations of the mechanisms by which spiritual beliefs lead to growth in subjective well-being.

More spiritual than religious: Concurrent and longitudinal relations with personality traits, mystical experiences, and other individual characteristics

“…In Study 2, we found little evidence to suggest that the R/S identities were associated with subsequent psychological well-being outcomes. These findings generally diverge from previous studies that have either documented a positive ( Nadal et al, 2018 ; Highland et al, 2022 ) or a negative ( King et al, 2013 ; Vittengl, 2018 ; Upenieks and Ford-Robertson, 2022 ) association of spirituality or spiritual self-identification with indicators of psychological well-being. Evidence of null, positive, or negative associations could be due to differences in methodology (e.g., samples, measures, analytic approaches) across studies.…”

“…To date, only a few studies have reported evidence concerning the cross-time associations of R/S identities with subsequent outcomes, with most studies focusing on outcomes within the broad domain of psychological well-being (e.g., Highland et al, 2022 ; Upenieks and Ford-Robertson, 2022 ). In Study 2, we extended the cross-sectional findings of Study 1 to a longitudinal design estimating the effects of the four R/S identities on a wide range of subsequent outcomes across the Big Five personality traits, psychological well-being, generativity, mystical experiences, religious schemata, self-rated religiosity and spirituality, religious centrality, God representation, and cognitive style.…”

“…Many studies have reported on the relation between spirituality and psychological well-being, but most of these studies either use religion and spirituality interchangeably or use measurements that confound spirituality and psychological well-being, and most are based on cross-sectional samples (see also the critique by Highland et al, 2022 ). When we focus on studies that differentiate between groups that reflect dominant R/S identities (i.e., MRTS, ERAS, MSTR, NRNS) and on studies that do not confound spirituality and psychological well-being, a relatively small number remains.…”

“…Illuminating the complex relationship between spirituality and psychological well-being, a recent longitudinal study of New Zealand adults ( Highland et al, 2022 ) found that “belief in a spirit or life force predicts lower personal well-being and life satisfaction” during the first waves, but toward the end of the 10-year study period the study revealed that “belief (relative to disbelief) in a spirit or life force predicts increasing personal well-being and life satisfaction over time” (p. 1738). Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that SBNR and ERAS were most closely associated with an increase in psychological well-being, even though spirituality was assessed by specific beliefs (namely belief in a spirit or life force) rather than by R/S self-identification.…”

Analysis of The Effect of Faith on Subjective Well-Being

“…One of the main developmental tasks at the adult stage is the financial aspect, this aspect is considered the responsibility of each individual at the adult development stage (Sorgente & Lanz, 2019). However, in assessing the developmental stages of adult women, it is also necessary to more widely open up various other aspects including SWB and spirituality (Highland et al, 2021). Various studies have shown that spirituality and SWB will provide a different paradigm for the financial concept of adult individuals.…”