A Comparative Psychological Study of Resilience, Flourishing, and Life Orientation among Believers and Non-Believers

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined whether individuals who identify as religious believers differ from non-believers in levels of resilience, flourishing, and life orientation. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that believers would report higher scores across all three variables due to psychological benefits often associated with faith. Method: Ninety participants (45 believers, 45 non-believers) completed standardized measures: the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the Flourishing Scale (FS), and the Life Orientation Test–Revised (LOT-R). Independent-samples t-tests were conducted to compare group differences. Results: Contrary to expectations, non-believers scored significantly higher in resilience (p = .0087). No significant differences emerged in flourishing (p = .0574) or life orientation (p = .6685), although non-believers reported slightly higher means on both measures. Conclusion: Findings suggest that psychological strengths such as resilience are not exclusive to religious individuals. Non-believers may cultivate adaptability through secular coping and meaning-making strategies. The study contributes to understanding diverse pathways to well-being in the Indian context and highlights the importance of inclusive approaches in counseling and mental health interventions.