'Is It Well With My Soul?' - Effects of Contemporary African Religious Practices on Well-Being

Hegemonic conceptions of well-being are rooted in the modern individualist models of person associated with WEIRD – western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic – settings. These conceptions may not apply to contexts of embeddedness (such as found in West Africa) and in developing countries. This project will therefore investigate well-being across different cultural ecologies in Ghana and contrast them with notions of well-being in mainstream scientific research (in the West). The project includes both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Project participants include religious leaders and religiously involved individuals in Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religion in Ghana. The project will contribute towards a better understanding of well-being that might be important to consider in social and development policy framing.