An international survey reveals a strong correlation between regular attendance at religious services and higher levels of individual flourishing.
The link between well-being and regular attendance at religious services was among the key insights gleaned from the first wave of data released April 30 from the Global Flourishing Study.
The study is a collaborative research project carried out by Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion, the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, Gallup and the Center for Open Science.
Launch of Baylor Institute for Global Flourishing
In conjunction with the release of the first round of data, Baylor University announced the launch of its Institute for Global Flourishing, an initiative university officials said aligns with the university’s Pro Mundo (for the world) vision and its Baylor in Deeds strategic plan.
“I am grateful that Baylor’s mission aligns so perfectly with the bold vision to launch the Institute for Global Human Flourishing,” said Byron Johnson, inaugural director of the Institute for Global Human Flourishing, co-principal investigator of the Global Flourishing Study and current director of the Institute for Studies of Religion.
“This extraordinary commitment positions Baylor to be a leader not only in advancing scientific knowledge via the Global Flourishing Study and related research, but it will also provide the infrastructure to offer much needed resources and tools to support the application of this knowledge to power a global flourishing movement.”
Creating the Institute for Global Flourishing advances Baylor’s “vision of human flourishing that is evidence-based, practical, faith-animated and inspirational,” said Provost Nancy Brickhouse.
“The Institute for Global Human Flourishing is uniquely positioned to serve as a catalyst for transformative impact on individuals and communities, while also engaging students, alumni, faculty, staff, Texas and the world in a shared pursuit of human flourishing, fostering a life of purpose, well-being and meaningful contribution,” Brickhouse said.
First round of data offers insights
The five-year, longitudinal Global Flourishing Study involves about 200,000 individuals in more than 20 countries, representing 45 languages.
Researchers measure global human flourishing across six domains including happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial and material stability.
“The first round of findings from the study showed attendance at religious services appears to be an important element related to flourishing across almost all countries,” the report “What Contributes to a Life Well-lived?” states.
“Attendance is generally associated with greater flourishing, even after controlling for other well-known predictors.”
In most countries, the report notes, the positive relationship between flourishing and attendance at religious services is more prevalent than between flourishing and civic participation.
“A statistically significant positive relationship exists between flourishing and religious service attendance in 21 out of 23 countries and territories, compared with 15 out of 23 between flourishing and civil society participation,” the report states.
About 50 Global Flourishing Study researchers spent the past year gleaning insights from the first wave of data.
Other key insights
In addition to the correlation between flourishing and attendance at religious services, they identified two other key insights.
- Global differences in flourishing: The study revealed many middle-income developing countries were doing better in terms of meaning, purpose and relationships than the richer developed world. Countries like Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines fared particularly well, while other nearby countries like Japan, Turkey and the United Kingdom did not.
- Younger generations lagging: The study revealed younger people appear to be not doing as well as older people when compared to the generations that came before them. Flourishing tends to increase with age in many countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many the youngest age group (18- to 24-year-olds) reported the lowest levels of flourishing.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ken Camp and originally published by Baptist Standard. Based in part on information provided by Lori Fogleman of Baylor University Media and Public Relations.
