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Being Thankful: Examining the Relationship Between Young Adult Religiosity and Gratitude

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Abstract

Studies show that religious people tend to be more grateful, yet existing research tends to rely on small, non-representative samples and limited measures of religiosity. Therefore, we use a national sample (the National Study of Youth and Religion) and multiple measures of religiosity to examine the extent to which religion is associated with feelings of gratitude. We find that religious efficacy and having religious friends positively predict the extent to which young adults feel grateful. In contrast, religious affiliation, participation in organized religion, private devotion, religious salience, otherworldly beliefs, and being spiritual but not religious are unrelated to experiencing feelings of gratitude.

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Acknowledgments

The National Study of Youth and Religion, http://www.youthandreligion.org, whose data were used by permission here, was generously funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., under the direction of Christian Smith, of the Department of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Ball State University, North Quad 216, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    Rachel Kraus

  2. Indiana University South Bend, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN, 46634-7111, USA

    Scott A. Desmond

  3. Purdue University, 700 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Zachary D. Palmer

Authors
  1. Rachel Kraus
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  2. Scott A. Desmond
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  3. Zachary D. Palmer
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Correspondence to Rachel Kraus.

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Kraus, R., Desmond, S.A. & Palmer, Z.D. Being Thankful: Examining the Relationship Between Young Adult Religiosity and Gratitude. J Relig Health 54, 1331–1344 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9923-2

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