Meaning in Life Mediates the Relationship Between Intrinsic Religious Orientation and Life Satisfaction

Religious orientations, such as intrinsic (IRO), extrinsic (ERO), and quest (QRO), may influence individuals’ sense of meaning in life and life satisfaction. This study examined these relationships among 392 Spanish Catholic undergraduates using the Religious Orientation Scale, Purpose in Life-10 Items, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Correlational analyses showed that IRO was positively related to both meaning in life and life satisfaction, while ERO showed no significant relationships, and QRO was linked to life satisfaction but not meaning in life. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping indicated that meaning in life significantly mediated the relationship between IRO and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that intrinsic religiosity enhances life satisfaction by fostering a sense of meaning, highlighting the importance of cultural context in understanding the pathways from religiosity to well-being.