Exploring the Relationship between Religiosity, Life Satisfaction, and Death Anxiety: A Contemporary Perspective

Abstract

This study explored the relationship among religiosity, life satisfaction, and death anxiety in a sample of Pakistani adults, with a focus on the moderating role of life satisfaction in the link between religiosity and death anxiety. Drawing on theories such as Terror Management Theory and Meaning Management Theory, the study examined how spiritual beliefs and subjective well-being interact to influence existential concerns. Participants (N = 200) completed standardized measures assessing their levels of religiosity, life satisfaction, and death anxiety. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between religiosity and death anxiety, as well as between life satisfaction and death anxiety, while religiosity was positively associated with life satisfaction. Moreover, life satisfaction significantly moderated the relationship between religiosity and death anxiety, suggesting that individuals with both high religiosity and high life satisfaction reported the lowest levels of death anxiety. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and public mental health, particularly in religious and collectivist societies, highlighting the protective role of spirituality and life meaning in managing fear of death.