A Matter of Faith: The Role of Religion, Doubt, and Personality in Emerging Adult Mental Health

Religion has been implicated as a powerful contributor to physical and mental well-being across the life span; however, its links to aspects of identity and individual differences often obscure its unique contributions. Few empirical efforts have attempted to disentangle the components of religion, particularly its social and personality-related qualities, that might account for its impact. This study examined several domains of religion as contributors to mental health, distinct from personality. A sample of emerging adults (n = 509) reported on these constructs along with measures of depression, anxiety, aggression, satisfaction with life, and flourishing. As hypothesized, hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that higher levels of religiosity were associated with better mental health outcomes above and beyond demographic characteristics and personality, and religious doubt was associated with poorer outcomes. Religiosity also differed as a function of gender and ethnicity. Clinical implications of these results are discussed along with recommendations for further research.