When God is your only friend: Religious beliefs compensate for purpose in life in the socially disconnected

an article by Todd Chan,  Nicholas M. Michalak and Oscar Ybarra (University of Michigan, USA) published in Journal of Personality Volume 87 Issue 3 (June 2019)

Abstract

Objective

Social relationships supply purpose to life. How can socially disconnected people, who show lower levels of purpose, compensate for purpose in life?

We propose that religious beliefs can compensate for the purpose in life that social relationships would otherwise provide, through providing

1. greater purpose to turn to and 
2. divine figures that can substitute for social relationships.

Method

In three studies, we analyze three nationally representative and longitudinal data sets (N = 19,775) using moderated regression and cross‐lagged panel analyses.

Results

Consistent with our hypotheses, religious beliefs were of minimal influence on purpose in life for socially connected individuals, who already held higher levels of purpose than socially disconnected individuals.

However, for socially disconnected individuals, being highly religious predicted higher levels of purpose in life.

Conclusions

Results suggest that although people primarily derive purpose from social relationships, socially disconnected individuals may leverage their religious beliefs for purpose and social comfort until they can reconnect.

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