A Triangulated and Exploratory Study of the Relationships Between Secularization, Religiosity, and Social Wellbeing

Chong Ho Yu (), Danielle Reimer (), Anna Lee (), Jean-Paul Snijder () and Hyun Seo Lee ()
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Chong Ho Yu: Azusa Pacific University
Danielle Reimer: Azusa Pacific University
Anna Lee: Azusa Pacific University
Jean-Paul Snijder: Claremont Graduate University
Hyun Seo Lee: Azusa Pacific University

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2017, vol. 131, issue 3, No 11, 1103-1119

Abstract: Abstract By comparing mainly religious America and secular Europe, several scholars (e.g. Harris, Paul, and Zuckerman) suggested a strong correlation between secularization (non-religiosity) and social well-being. The authors of this paper argue that the preceding thesis may be too simplistic and Western-centric. Without attempting to affirm any specific hypothesis, these authors employed exploratory data analysis and data visualization to unveil patterns found in worldwide data, including the 2013 United Nations Human Development Report, the 2014 Gallup’s Global Wellbeing Index, and the 2013 World Values Survey. It was found that the relationship between secularization and social well-being is not straightforward or clear-cut. In some cases, secularization or lack of religiosity is seemingly linked to better quality of life (e.g. disbelief and inequality-adjusted human development index), while in other cases, the relationship is reversed (e.g. skepticism and adolescent birth rate). In most situations there is no association at all.

Keywords: Wellbeing; Secularization; Religiosity; Human development index; Gallup Global Wellbeing; World Value Survey; Thriving; Exploratory data analysis; Data visualization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1290-9

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