Religion and Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from PSM Approach

While some research projects have been done into the guidelines for and inefficacy of religious involvement in subjective well-being (SWB), it has been well-argued that religious involvement should be more considered as one of the key elements triggering off SWB. The current study examines the possible relationship between religious involvement, religious attendance, religious beliefs, and SWB among male and female groups. The relationship between the variables and SWB was investigated through Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Nearest-Neighbor Matching (NNM). The sample consists of people aged 18 and over in fifteen districts of Isfahan in the year 2020 (N=363). Our analysis shows a robust influence of religious involvement, religious attendance, and religious beliefs on SWB in a framework of multivariate logistics which controls for education, gender, income, and disabilities. Moreover, in contrast to other studies, the findings indicate equal efficacy of religion for both men and women. In addition, findings show that Muslim individuals are happier and more satisfied with life than non-Muslim or non-religious people. We suggest that the influence of religious organizations and communities on the process of happiness and welfare as well as the function of these elements be highlighted as areas for further studies.