The drift towards a more secular mindset among Australians is no gift for community wellbeing, suggests NCLS Research report - Spirituality and Wellbeing in Australia.

Dr Peter Kaldor, the report's principal author, said the results suggest that, in some important areas, those with a more secular outlook have lower levels of wellbeing than those with a spiritual orientation.

"Those with a spiritual orientation tend to score higher on many of the wellbeing measures included in the study. They tend to have a greater sense of purpose in life, a greater openness to personal growth, and more optimism about life", he said.

"Of significance, the research also suggests that those with a spiritual orientation are more likely to contribute to others, whether informally in daily life, giving money to charities or doing voluntary service with community groups. These results suggest that exploration of spirituality and wellbeing may be important to a healthy society."

The research is based on the 2002-03 Wellbeing and Security Study, undertaken by researchers from Edith Cowan University and Deakin University in conjunction with NCLS Research and ANGLICARE (Sydney). It is designed to examine the nature and levels of security in Australian society, and its relationship with wellbeing.

Dr John Bellamy, ANGLICARE's researcher on the study, said some writers have assumed that a more secular outlook on life would be positive for society. "While no doubt a complex question, the opposite appears to be true: religion and spirituality appear to provide some anchors for life."

The study also examines wellbeing among people with different spiritual orientations.

"Alternative spiritualities and a Christian religious orientation have different relationships with wellbeing", said Dr Kaldor. "While both are linked to a positive sense of purpose in life, those with a religious orientation tend to have a greater sense of purpose than those involved in alternative spiritualities. Those involved in alternative spiritualities are less likely to contribute to charities or to community groups than people with a religious orientation."

Dr Kaldor believes that this may be due to the more eclectic nature of much alternative spiritual searching that does not provide as clear a framework for living.  "It is also possible that people who are unable to embrace religious beliefs are more likely to explore alternative spiritualities", Dr Kaldor said.

The study found that pursuing alternative spiritualities appears to be more strongly related to a sense of personal growth than does a religious orientation.

The study also identifies a concern in relation to religious orientation. Compared to other religious people, the unreflectively religious tend to have lower levels of self-esteem, lower levels of personal growth, and are less involved in voluntary service, giving to charities or informal acts of service.

The lower levels of wellbeing among people with a secular mindset suggest that many Australians are not finding the wellbeing they aspire to. Why, with widespread affluence, are Australians no happier than previously?

Dr Kaldor said "Part of the answer may lie in the lack of importance placed on the spiritual in our society. While many things can affect our sense of wellbeing, the study does raise questions about the role of spirituality in this".

Dr Bellamy said "The results of the research suggest that with the decline of the significance of church life in Australia and the secularisation of Christian festivals such as Christmas, we are losing something of the fabric of community wellbeing.

The study - a random sample survey of 1514 Australian adults - contains a range of health and wellbeing measures and measures of spiritual beliefs and practices. The measures include:

• General health and physical functioning
• Mental health
• Self esteem, optimism, sense of control, purpose in life and sense of personal growth
• Satisfaction with life
• Sense of security
• Relational wellbeing
• Concern for others

The full paper can be read at the NCLS website at www.ncls.org.au
Link: NCLS Occasional Paper 6: Spiritualty and Wellbeing