Buddhist Beliefs and Subjective Well-Being: A Narrative Review
International Journal of Research June 28, 2026 DOI: 10.26643/ijr/115 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key findings | Argues that research on Buddhist belief and subjective well-being is conceptually fragmented and empirically underintegrated, despite extensive study of mindfulness-based constructs. The review aims to clarify how Buddhist belief has been operationalized, assess evidence linking Buddhist-related orientations to well-being, and identify psychological mechanisms. |
Abstract
This narrative review synthesizes theoretical perspectives and empirical findings on the relationship between Buddhist beliefs and subjective well-being (SWB). Although mindfulness-based constructs derived from Buddhism have been widely studied in psychological science, the broader role of explicitly Buddhist belief systems remains conceptually fragmented and empirically underintegrated. Drawing on literature retrieved from major academic databases, the review examines how Buddhist belief has been operationalized, evaluates evidence linking Buddhist-related orientations to SWB, and identifies key psychological mechanisms.