Religiosity and Well-Being in Emerging Adults

Abstract

A sample of emerging adults (N = 188; mean age = 22.58 years) at a large public university in the United States participated in survey research investigating the relationship of several religious variables to academic and psychosocial well-being. Analyses indicated that self-rated religiosity, frequency of attendance at religious services, frequency of prayer, and having a sense of mission or calling for one’s life were all related to a better mood. At the same time, participants with higher grade point averages were more likely to report attending religious services more frequently and to agree that their lives unfolded according to a divine or greater plan. Finally, the analysis showed that: (1) participants who agreed that their lives unfold according to a divine or greater plan had lower anxiety scores, and (2) frequency of prayer was related to having goals or a more solid sense of direction for one’s life.