What makes devout Christians happier? Evidence from Taiwan

Tao, Hung‐Lin

doi:10.1080/00036840600749839

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…In Ellison (1991), Protestants are found to be happier than Catholics which is explained by the organizational structure of those denominations: Protestants derive greater utility due to a higher autonomy in their belief, due to the collective identity and due to better social integration. Moreover, Christians in general seem to have an advantage compared to other religions in terms of subjective well-being: The probability of being happier is 28% higher for pious Christians than for Buddhists or members of Taiwanese folk religion (Tao 2008). However, there are also studies that do not find any impact of denomination on happiness or life satisfaction in Europe (Hayo, 2007 andGreene andYoon, 2004).…”

Section: Denominationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The question of whether, and in what way, religion influences employment, wages or general labor market attainment is the most interesting aspect from the viewpoint of economists. People believing in God may acquire greater human capital, which is rewarded on the labor market (Tao 2008). Furthermore, religious values like modesty, honesty and accuracy tend to increase the quality of daily work and foster collaboration, and thus translates into greater income and better labor market prospects.…”

Section: Income and Labor Market Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neal (1997) does not find any advantage of Catholic secondary schooling on graduation rates and future wages compared to public schools in general. Tao (2008) investigates whether religion indirectly enhances subjective wellbeing through increasing job stability. He does not find evidence for this hypothesis: Religious people do not profit from their beliefs with respect to the risk of becoming unemployed.…”

Section: Income and Labor Market Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The health effect of religion is especially large for elderly people (see for example Levin andChatters 1998, Ferraro andKelley Moore 2000). According to Tao (2008), religion increases well-being significantly through greater health. Thus, the effect religion has on health seems to be less ambiguous than the one on income.…”

Section: Effects On Health Social Network and Crimementioning

confidence: 99%

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Economics, Religion and Happiness

Steiner¹,

Leinert²,

Frey³

2010

zfwu

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This survey intends to portray the two main approaches of economic research on religion. The first investigates the impact of religion on the economy. Religion and the internalized value system are found to influence economic attitudes output in a favorable way. The second approach is to explain religious behavior with economic models showing how an individual can derive utility from religion. Modern happiness research makes it possible to measure the impact of religion on subjective well-being empirically. The literature finds a positive correlation of religion and happiness, with a robust effect of churchgoing and protestant confession, while the results on internal religiosity are more ambiguous. In our analyses for Switzerland we are able to confirm these results and show that the effect of church going on happiness is quite sizeable.Economics, Religion and Happiness (mit Lasse Steiner und Lisa Leinert) zfwu Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts-und Unternehmensethik. 11/1 (2010): S. 9 -24.This survey intends to portray the two main approaches of economic research on religion. The first investigates the impact of religion on the economy. Religion and the internalized value system are found to influence economic attitudes output in a favorable way. The second approach is to explain religious behavior with economic models showing how an individual can derive utility from religion. Modern happiness research makes it possible to measure the impact of religion on subjective well-being empirically. The literature finds a positive correlation of religion and happiness, with a robust effect of churchgoing and protestant confession, while the results on internal religiosity are more ambiguous. In our analyses for Switzerland we are able to confirm these results and show that the effect of church going on happiness is quite sizeable.

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Section: Denominationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Income and Labor Market Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Income and Labor Market Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects On Health Social Network and Crimementioning

confidence: 99%

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Economics, Religion and Happiness

Steiner¹,

Leinert²,

Frey³

2010

zfwu

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“…Specifically, church attendance and religious practices have been noted to improve mental health [4] . In addition, community-based surveys have demonstrated that individuals who attend religious services are happier and more giving of their personal resources [5] . The purpose of this study was to specifically evaluate the impact of patients' depth of religious adherence on their outlook on disease and treatment in a glaucoma population.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Strength of Religious Adherence with Attitudes regarding Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Stewart

Sharpe²,

Kristoffersen³

et al. 2010

Ophthalmic Res

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Background: To evaluate the impact of religious adherence on a patient’s outlook on disease in a glaucoma population. Methods: A prospective survey analysis of patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension evaluating self-reported global religious adherence, adherence to specific basic activities and knowledge of faith (‘maturity’) and ‘comfort’ (ability to cope, attitude toward glaucoma, motivation to take medication and God’s concern). This specific analysis was limited to self-professed Christians. Results: 248 patients were included and religious adherence was correlated to religious activity and knowledge (p < 0.0001). Patients who scored as adherent on at least 1 of 4 maturity questions had greater benefit than less adherent patients from each of the 5 comfort questions (p < 0.0001). We found an increased statistical separation on each of the 5 comfort questions between religiously adherent and less adherent individuals for patients who scored as adherent on any 2 (n = 40), 3 (n = 50) or all 4 (n = 57) of the maturity questions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study suggests, at least for the Christian faith, that religious patients are subjectively more prone to cope with treatment and that religiosity increases the self-confidence, and possibly the quality of life, of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Whether this necessarily translates into better glaucoma practices remains to be demonstrated by further studies.

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Association of Strength of Community Service to Personal Wellbeing

MacIlvaine

Nelson²,

Stewart³

et al. 2013

Community Ment Health J

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To assess the impact of community service on personal wellbeing in a mid-west church-based population. A prospective survey evaluating: self-reported community service, the perceived benefit of the service and its association to personal wellbeing. 309 participants were included of whom 92 % were employed full or part time, homemakers or students. Those who served in some capacity had better scores on five Wellbeing questions including: contentment, peace, joy, purpose and community acceptance (P < 0.02), but not better self-perceived mental or physical health (P > 0.05). People who served had a better combined Wellbeing score than those who could not serve (P = 0.03). A higher number of hours served/week was associated with better Global Wellbeing (P = 0.02). The greatest perceived benefit of service was related to enhancing wellbeing of others and the service organization itself (P < 0.0001). Church going adults, who are serving in some capacity in their church or community, may demonstrate heightened personal wellbeing compared to those who are not assisting others.

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What makes devout Christians happier? Evidence from Taiwan

Cited by 12 publications

References 45 publications

Economics, Religion and Happiness

Economics, Religion and Happiness

Association of Strength of Religious Adherence with Attitudes regarding Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Association of Strength of Community Service to Personal Wellbeing

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