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Religiosity Moderates the Relationship between Income Inequality and Life Satisfaction across the Globe

Author

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  • Mohsen Joshanloo

    (Keimyung University)

  • Dan Weijers

    (California State University)

Abstract

This paper reports two studies that sought to examine whether religiosity moderates the relationship between income inequality and life satisfaction. Practice-based and belief-based aspects of religion were both included in the analyses. Using multi-level analyses on 85 nations across the world (N = 217,591) and 27 European nations (N = 49,763), we found evidence in support of our hypothesis that religiosity mitigates the negative influence of income inequality on life satisfaction. Our results also indicate that it is religious belief, not religious practice, that functions as a buffer in the relationship between income inequality and life satisfaction. The importance and implications of the results are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohsen Joshanloo & Dan Weijers, 2016. "Religiosity Moderates the Relationship between Income Inequality and Life Satisfaction across the Globe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 128(2), pages 731-750, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:128:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-015-1054-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-015-1054-y
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    2. Hilary I. Okagbue & Pelumi E. Oguntunde & Sheila A. Bishop & Patience I. Adamu & Elvir M. Akhmetshin & Chukwuemeka O. Iroham, 2021. "Significant Predictors of Henley Passport Index," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-32, March.
    3. Ursina Kuhn & Gaël Brulé, 2019. "Buffering Effects for Negative Life Events: The Role of Material, Social, Religious and Personal Resources," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1397-1417, June.
    4. Adam B. Cohen & Kathryn A. Johnson, 2017. "The Relation between Religion and Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(3), pages 533-547, September.
    5. Greyling, Talita & Fisher, Bianca, 2020. "Women’s optimism, the gender happiness equaliser: a case of South Africa," GLO Discussion Paper Series 472, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Gerald E. Ezirim & Peter O. Mbah & Ejikeme J. Nwagwu & Ikechukwu Charles Eze & George C. Nche & JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji, 2021. "Trust and Trustworthiness in a Sub-Saharan African Sample: Contributions of Personality and Religiosity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 1087-1107, February.
    7. Jiawen Huang, 2019. "Income Inequality, Distributive Justice Beliefs, and Happiness in China: Evidence from a Nationwide Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 83-105, February.
    8. Benjamin Schalembier, 2019. "An Evaluation of Common Explanations for the Impact of Income Inequality on Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 777-794, March.
    9. Abida Begum & Liu Jingwei & Maqsood Haider & Muhammad Maroof Ajmal & Salim Khan & Heesup Han, 2021. "Impact of Environmental Moral Education on Pro-Environmental Behaviour: Do Psychological Empowerment and Islamic Religiosity Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.

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