The role of demographic factors on religious beliefs: Evidence from five countries

Abstract

Background: Individuals' values, attitudes, and behaviours are significantly influenced by their religious beliefs. The present study examines the demographic factors (gender, age groups, religion, employment status, household income, marital status, self-perceived adulthood, and country of origin) that may influence religious beliefs. Methods: The data was collected from September to December 2022 using an online survey. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 885 respondents from five countries: Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Kenya, and Indonesia. The survey included questions on five variables related to religious belief: religious certainty, religious culture, religious importance, religious practice, and belief in God. Respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement or disagreement with statements related to each variable on a Likert scale. T-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data and determine any significant differences in religious beliefs between the five countries. Results: The results revealed that female respondents held stronger religious beliefs than male respondents. Furthermore, respondents aged 30-45 rated themselves as having a higher religious culture and practice than respondents aged 18-29. Islam groups ranked highest in religious beliefs, followed by Christian, Roman Catholic, and Hindu groups. Full-time students rated themselves as less religious than full-time employed and other groups, while lower-income groups rated themselves as more religious than middle- and upper-income groups. Single groups rated themselves higher on belief in God than cohabiting and in-relationship groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study provides evidence that demographic factors influence religious beliefs among respondents from five different countries. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of how religiosity is shaped by various socio-demographic factors and can inform policies and interventions designed to promote religious tolerance and diversity. More research is required to investigate the complex relationships between demographic factors and religiosity, particularly in different cultural and religious contexts.