Do Religious People Have More Self-Esteem Than Non-Believers?

According to an analysis of questionnaire responses from the European dating website eDarling, religious people tend to have a higher self-esteem than non-believers, especially in countries with high value on religion.

By Adam Daley | January 20, 2012

According to an analysis of questionnaire responses from the European dating website eDarling, religious people tend to have a higher self-esteem than non-believers, especially in countries with high value on religion.

Researchers used answers from 187,957 people in 11 different European countries. The questionnaire included how important your personal religious beliefs are and questions that identify social self-esteem.

Prayer

Photo: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Worshipers attend a mass at Brasilia Cathedral May 31, 2011.

Prayer

Worshipers attend a mass at Brasilia Cathedral May 31, 2011. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Share This Story

In countries where most people aren't religious, religious people didn't have higher self-esteem.

"We think you only pat yourself on the back for being religious if you live in a social system that values religiosity," said lead researcher Jochen Gebauer of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. “The same might be true when you compare different states in the U.S. or different cities.”

The study is published in the journal Psychological Science.

MORE FROM THE WEB
Health Videos
FIND DOCTORS, WRITE A REVIEW
  • First Name Last Name
  • State
  • Specialty
Medical Daily

Copyright ⓒ 2012 MedicalDaily.com All rights reserved.

Real Time Web Analytics