The Effect of Religious Belief and Optimism on Happiness among Buddhists

The purpose of this study is to examine how religious belief and optimism influence happiness among Buddhists. The sample used for analysis was drawn from the "Korean General Social Survey(KGSS)" conducted by the Academy of East Asian Studies at Sungkyunkwan University, selecting 167 adult respondents whose religion was identified as Buddhism, in accordance with the research topic. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, employing descriptive statistics, difference tests, and regression analysis. The key findings based on the research questions are as follows: First, an analysis of differences in happiness based on demographic and sociological characteristics revealed that marital status and satisfaction with family relationships, as well as health status, showed significant differences in their association with happiness. Second, the analysis of the relationship between religious belief, optimism, and happiness indicated that higher levels of religious belief and optimism were associated with increased happiness among Buddhists. Personal factors and religious factors were found to have no significant differences or influence on happiness. Consequently, the study suggests alternatives for enhancing happiness among Buddhist believers through improving satisfaction with family relationships, physical and mental health, as well as fostering religious belief and optimism.