ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.

Sec. Positive Psychology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1571796

Mazu Belief and Happiness: A Sequential Mediation Model Involving Mental Health and Positive Emotions among Taiwanese Followers

Provisionally accepted
Hsiao-Ming  ChangHsiao-Ming Chang1Ching-Hui  LinChing-Hui Lin2*
  • 1Putian University, Putian, China
  • 2Yuan Ze University, Zhongli District, Taiwan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

This study examined the impact of Mazu beliefs on the happiness of Taiwanese followers and investigated the theoretical model by analyzing the mediating impacts of mental health and positive emotions. A questionnaire survey using convenience sampling was conducted among followers from 57 Mazu temples in 20 counties and cities in Taiwan. A total of 402 valid samples were collected. The statistical analysis showed that Mazu beliefs have a significant positive impact on mental health and positive emotions, but their impact on happiness is achieved through improving mental health and triggering positive emotions. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of Eastern religious beliefs in promoting mental health and stimulating positive emotions. According to the conclusion, cultural backgrounds may regulate the impact of beliefs on psychology and emotions, providing a new research perspective for the field of positive psychology.

Keywords: Mazu belief, Mental Health, Positive emotions, happiness, Religious culture 1.Introduction

Received: 06 Feb 2025; Accepted: 03 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Chang and Lin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Ching-Hui Lin, Yuan Ze University, Zhongli District, 32003, Taiwan

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