This study investigates how childhood experiences, personal traits, and social contexts influence belief in life after death in adulthood. Using data from 200,000 individuals across 22 countries, we examine 16 childhood predictors of this belief and assess variation across cultural contexts. Findings aim to clarify early-life pathways to adult beliefs about the afterlife and their broader implications for well-being.
Researchers
Zhuo Job Chen
University of North Carolina- Charlotte, Nursing / Psychology
Richard Cowden
Harvard University, Psychology
South Africa
Byron R. Johnson
Baylor University, Institute for Studies of Religion/Sociology