Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

5-2025

Abstract

Across five studies (total N = 8,414), we examined whether religious individuals experienced more mixed emotions. Studies 1 and 2 examined associations between dispositional religiosity and mixed emotions, while Study 3 provided a pre-registered replication. Study 4 provided a pre-registered exploratory examination of three potential mediators of the relationship between dispositional religiosity and mixed emotions: trait dialecticism, cognitive reappraisal, and fear of God. Finally, Study 5 provided pre-registered prospective analyses testing associations between dispositional religiosity and mixed emotions 1 month later. Across all studies, positive and negative emotions were also examined, and latent variable structural equation modeling was performed, controlling for age, gender, education, and income. A multilevel multivariate meta-analysis was then performed to aggregate key findings. Results indicated that dispositional religiosity was associated with increased mixed emotions and positive emotions but not negative emotions. Additionally, fear of God was supported as a potential mediator between dispositional religiosity and mixed emotions.

Keywords

emotions, fear of god, mixed emotions, religion, religiosity

Discipline

Psychology | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Areas of Excellence

Sustainability

Publication

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

First Page

1

Last Page

19

ISSN

0146-1672

Identifier

10.1177/01461672251337120

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251337120

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