Beliefs about god buffer against the health risks of loneliness and social isolation in five major religions and 22 countries

Abstract

Religious individuals consistently report lower levels of loneliness and social isolation, as well as better health, than the nonreligious. Although supportive religious communities are well-known contributors to these outcomes, the nature of one’s relationship with the divine may also play a key role. For the over 5 billion religious people in the world, belief in a higher power may offer protection against loneliness even when individuals are physically alone. Further, a relationship with an omnipresent, loving higher power may serve as a powerful source of social support that not only alleviates loneliness but also buffers its negative effects on health. Using Global Flourishing Study data from over 180,000 individuals across five major world religions in 22 countries, we find that: (1) individuals across religious affiliations are less lonely and less socially isolated than the nonreligious, and (2) believing in and feeling loved by a higher power attenuate the extent to which social isolation and loneliness predict worse physical and mental health. Together, these findings deepen our understanding of the role of religious beliefs in shaping both the experience and health risks of loneliness and social isolation and identify new globally applicable intervention targets to address these pressing public health problems.

Chayce Baldwin

PhD Candidate

Chayce Baldwin is a social psychologist studying well-being and culture using diverse methods and populations.