The Role of Education in Shaping Religious Orientation and Psychological Well-Being among Muslim individuals in Western Maharashtra

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of educational attainment on intrinsic religious orientation and psychological well-being among Muslim individuals in Western Maharashtra. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a diverse sample of 600 participants (350 males, 250 females) across five districts: Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, and Kolhapur. Participants were divided into three educational categories: matriculated, graduate, and postgraduate. The Religious Orientation Scale by Dr. Daniel Batson and the Psychological Well-Being Scale by Dr. Carol Ryff were used to assess intrinsic religious orientation and psychological well-being, respectively. The study had three main goals: (1) to compare the religious orientation of individuals with different levels of education, (2) to compare their mental well-being, and (3) to see if there was a relationship between religious beliefs and mental well-being. The results showed that individuals who were graduates or postgraduates had stronger personal religious beliefs (average score of 78.54) than those who had only completed matriculation (average score of 66.16). This difference was significant, with a t-value of 15.874. Similarly, graduates and postgraduates also had better mental health (average score of 168.32) compared to matriculated individuals (average score of 160.29), with a t-value of 8.83. Additionally, there was a very strong positive link (r = 0.975) between personal religious beliefs and mental well-being. This means that individuals who had stronger religious beliefs were more likely to have better mental health. The findings suggest that education plays a key role in shaping both religious beliefs and mental health. Higher education helps people develop stronger personal beliefs and leads to better psychological well-being. This study shows how education can impact personal growth and spiritual development, especially within religious communities.