God Perfectionism as a Mediator of Intrinsic Religiosity and Life Satisfaction: A Christian Sample of Young Adults

Abstract

Intrinsic religiosity is a focus on religion for its own sake without consideration of its perceived external benefits. God perfectionism is an external source of perfectionism that is perceived to come from a higher power. This study investigates God perfectionism as a causal pathway between intrinsic religiosity and life satisfaction. Christian college students ( n = 125; male = 44%, female = 56%; Mage = 19.9 years, SD = 1.46, range = 15–56) were surveyed on perfectionism from God (standards and discrepancy), intrinsic religiosity, and satisfaction with life. Analyses indicated that intrinsic religiosity was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction ( b = .33, p = .0183). Our mediation analyses found significant indirect effects from intrinsic religiosity to life satisfaction through our mediator of perceived discrepancy from God ( b = .13, CI = .02 to .32), but the indirect effects via perceived standards from God were not significant. Results illustrate how intrinsic religiosity can affect life satisfaction based on one’s personal perception of God’s standards and discrepancies. Implications of these findings could lead to further research on what aspects of religiosity contribute to standards or discrepancy from God.