Examining the longitudinal influences of age and sources of religious doubt on wellbeing

Abstract

ABSTRACT Latent growth curve models tested associations among age, four sources of religious doubt and emotional wellbeing. Adults (N = 179, men age = 37.9 yrs) completed three waves of data collection over a two-year period. Older age was associated with lower initial levels of life satisfaction (b = -.103) and lower initial positive affect (b = -.047) and faster decline in positive affect (b = .028). Age was not significantly associated with initial levels of negative affect. Higher doubts related to the benevolence of God affected initial levels of life satisfaction and positive affect. Only doubts related to felt pressures from one’s religious community influenced initial levels and rates of increase over time in negative affect. Drawing on Socioemotional Selectivity Theory and gerotranscendence theory, findings suggest that age and sources religious doubt differentially influence a range of wellbeing outcomes, exacerbating negative affect.