What makes devout Christians happier? Evidence from Taiwan

Abstract

This study divides the effects of religious involvement on subjective well being (SWB) into direct and indirect channels. The indirect channels mean that, by improving its adherents’ present lives, religion enhances their happiness. It is found that devout Christians enhance their SWB by means of one direct channel and three indirect channels; these indirect channels being high health expectations, good family relationship expectations and sound social networks. A good family relationship expectation is found to be the most important factor among the indirect channels. Devout Christians are happier than their counterparts based on a probability of 28, 55, and 45% of the 28% are accounted for by the direct channel and the three indirect channels, respectively.