A Qualitative exploration of the Relationship between Religion and Well-being in Young Muslim women in Greater Manchester.

Mahmood, Maria (2016) A Qualitative exploration of the Relationship between Religion and Well-being in Young Muslim women in Greater Manchester. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Religion and wellbeing have been thoroughly researched especially in regards to an aging population and a non-Muslim population (Ferriss, 2002). However, the relationship between religion and wellbeing in Muslim women in particular has been under researched, therefore this study aimed to investigate the relationship in young Muslim women in Greater Manchester, primarily focussing on the underlying processes involved in this relationship. Six young Muslim women were recruited via snowball sampling and semi structured interviews were conducted to obtain data. The findings were analysed using thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). Three themes emerged from the research: purpose and meaning in life in relation to well-being, power of prayer in facilitating well- being and social wellbeing: a sense of unity and belongingness. The findings indicated that young Muslim women perceived their life to be meaningful and found religion to enhance their subjective, social and psychological well-being.