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ABSTRACT
Scholars have long speculated that experiencing awe – an emotional state where people believe they are in the presence of something grand – might be beneficial for well-being. We explore a manifestation of awe that is unique to religion – awe of God. Drawing on a national sample from the United States, being in awe of God was associated with lower depression, higher life satisfaction, and better self-rated health, associations partially mediated by the sense of meaning in life. Awe of God may bolster well-being by allowing people to view their life according to the vastness and complexity of a divine plan.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
This work was supported by the National Institure of Aging [RO1 AG009221] and the John Templeton Foundation.