PRAYER AND ALTRUISTIC DESIRE AS PREDICTORS OF HAPPINESS

Abstract

Suldo and Shaffer (2008) identify a dual factor model of mental health with well-being and mental illness at opposite ends of the spectrum. The objective of positive psychology is to investigate ways to make people happier. This is a difficult task given the international rise of mental illness. The study undertaken here reports on a comparative analysis of results from wave six (2010-2014) of the World Values Survey (WVS) for the USA (n = 2,232), Thailand (n = 1,200), India (n = 4,078), and Turkey (n = 1,605) to examine the positive mental health benefits of prayer versus using religion for altruistic purposes. These countries were selected for analysis in attempt to explore general differences based on representations of the world’s major religions as well as the underlying effects of individualism and collectivism on happiness. The USA’s concept of the pursuit of happiness is very much rooted in individualism. Although the USA has separation of church and state, the sample contains participants from across the religious spectrum. The other countries under investigation are considered collectivist and have religious majorities that identify with Buddhism in Thailand, Hinduism in India, and Islam in Turkey. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that prayer is significantly associated with increased happiness in India and Turkey. In India, those who pray often were more likely to report being happy than participants who do not pray (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47, 3.12). In Turkey, those who pray often were also more likely to report being happier than participants who do not pray (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33, 4.42). Prayer was not significantly associated with happiness in the United States or Thailand. Surprisingly, logistic regression analysis for using religion as a means ‘to do good to other people’ versus ‘to follow religious norms’ only significantly predicted happiness in India. Self-reports of prayer appear to be better predicting happiness in collectivist countries such as India and Turkey. Implications about focusing on the welfare of others are discussed.