Role of Religious Commitment and Cultural Practices among Hindu and Sikh Communities on Anasakti and Life-satisfaction: Implications for Health and Wellbeing

Although research suggests a linear relationship between religiosity and wellbeing but there is no research that has compared the level of religious commitment and cultural practices among Hindu and Sikh communities and their implications for health and wellbeing. This study aims to understand the distinctiveness of Hindu and Sikh communities ,their core values and shared experiences, and to what extent they influence a persons’ life and wellbeing. A survey of adult Indian population(N=800) was done to examine age(young and old) vs. gender(men and women) group differences among Hindu (N=400) and Sikh (N = 400) communities in non-attachment(anasakti), religious commitment, life satisfaction, health and wellbeing.2x2 ANOVA revealed that religious commitment, life satisfaction , health and wellbeing was significantly higher among Sikh than Hindu community members .There were no differences in anasakti among both the religious groups. Older men as compared to the younger men were more committed to their religion, with greater involvement in religious practices, feeling of religious identity, better life satisfaction and wellbeing. Sikh women as compared to Hindu women had higher level of religious commitment, life satisfaction, health and wellbeing. Religious commitment was significantly correlated with health, wellbeing and life satisfaction but not to anasakti. The qualitative analysis revealed that religious rituals , traditions, beliefs and cultural practices involved in Hindu and Sikh religions enhanced positive psycho-social functioning as expressivity, social support, sense of belongingness, personal strengths, positive emotions, resilience and resources for coping and effective action while reducing risky and amoral behaviors. The research has important implications for developing community intervention programs to address future health care needs.