Mapping Religious and Spiritual Comfort Worldwide: Demographic Patterns Across 22 Countries

Prior research highlights the role of religious and spiritual (R/S) comfort in coping with adversity, particularly in Global North contexts. This study examined R/S comfort across 22 countries and various demographics, using representative data from 202,898 individuals participating in the Global Flourishing Study. For each demographic category country-specific proportions of R/S comfort were estimated by country and then pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Prevalence of R/S comfort varied widely, from 7% in Japan to 98% in Egypt, with higher rates in less industrialized countries. Meta-analyses indicated that regular religious service attendance and older age were associated the most with greater R/S comfort, while other factors—gender, marital status, education, labor market status, immigration status, race/ethnicity, and religious affiliation—showed diverse associations with R/S comfort. Findings underscore significant cross-national and demographic variability, encouraging further research into sociocultural influences on R/S comfort.