Religious Involvement, Well-being and Mental Health in Men and Women

By : B.S. Gupta, Uma Gupta

Page No: 179-202

Abstract
The relationship of religious involvement (operationlized as religious attendance, participation in religious activities, and religious commitment) with the indices of well-being and mental health was examined in men and women. The study supports the following conclusions: (1) men and women do not differ in the frequency of temple visits (religious attendance); (2) men and women who pay more frequent visits to the temple experience significantly less stress and anxiety than those who are less frequent visitors; (3) women participate in religious activities more frequently than men; (4) men and women who participate in religious activities more frequently have significantly higher scores on religious commitment, life satisfaction, optimism and meaning in life, and smaller scores on stress and anxiety than those who participate in such activities less frequently; (5) women having higher levels of religious commitment experience more life satisfaction, are more optimistic, have more meaning in life and are less stressed and anxious compared to men.

Authors :
Uma Gupta : Department of Siddhant Darshan, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005
B.S. Gupta : Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005.