The Mediating/Moderating Effects of Intrinsic Religiosity on the Gratitude-Health Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not intrinsic religiosity is an effective mediator or moderator between gratitude and health in college-aged students. The sample population was 450 undergraduate students from East Carolina University who filled out paper surveys with measures of gratitude, religiosity, and physical/psychological health complaints. Analyses were run to determine sex and ethnic differences, the strength of the relationship between gratitude, intrinsic religiosity, and health, and if mediation or moderation was present. First, results of this study indicate that women report higher levels gratitude than men, and African Americans report higher levels of intrinsic religiosity than Caucasian Americans. Second, gratitude was significantly related to fewer health complaints, while intrinsic religiosity was not. Third, mediation was not possible for intrinsic religiosity, because it did not hold a significant relationship with health, which goes against the necessary preconditions for mediation. Moderation was also not significant. The evidence suggests that religiosity plays no part in the gratitude--health relationship in this sample.