The relationship between religiosity, happiness, peace and life satisfaction among Syriacs: A case study of the Mardin region

ABSTRACT Happiness has long been regarded as a fundamental emotion that people strive to attain. This pursuit reflects the search for meaning and inner richness beyond mere survival. In the twentieth century, with the emergence of positive psychology led by Martin Seligman, positive emotions began to be systematically studied, focusing not only on psychopathology but also on individuals' strengths and well-being. This study examined the relationships between happiness, tranquility, life satisfaction, and intrinsic religious motivation among Syriac individuals. The relationships between participants' demographic characteristics and their levels of religious motivation and happiness were also evaluated. Conducted in Mardin, a city notable for its historical and cultural richness, the research provides insight into how religion and cultural context relate to happiness. The study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, qualitative document analysis explored religion, religiosity, happiness, tranquility, and life satisfaction, as well as the link between religion and happiness. Information on the Syriac community's Christian faith, historical background, lifestyle, and religious practices was included. In the second stage, survey data were collected from participants aged 18–85 using snowball sampling. Instruments included a Demographic Information Form, "the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire", "the Intrinsic Religious Motivation Scale", "the Tranquility Scale" and "the Satisfaction with Life Scale". Data were analyzed using SPSS. Findings indicated that individuals with higher religiosity also reported higher levels of happiness, tranquility, and life satisfaction, suggesting that religious belief can be an important resource for psychological well-being. This research, focusing on a relatively understudied community, offers a unique perspective on the psychological well-being of Syriacs. Keywords: Psychology of Religion, Syriac, Happiness, Religiosity