Title: Intrinsic Religious Orientation: ethnic differences within a lay sample

Authors: Jai Ghorpade, Jim Lackritz, Gangaram Singh

Addresses: College of Business Administration, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182 8238, USA. ' College of Business Administration, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182 8238, USA. ' College of Business Administration, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California 92182 8238, USA

Abstract: This article examines the demographic antecedents and psychological correlate, alienation, of Intrinsic Religious Orientation (IRO) in lay sample in the USA. Our data show that IRO differs significantly across ethnicity, religious affiliation and gender. In addition, IRO is positively correlated with alienation. We conclude that IRO, a type of religious commitment that emphasises belief in God, serves as a form of psychological refuge from the tensions of society and provides a means of coping with demand.

Keywords: alienation; intrinsic religious orientation; religiousness; sustainability; sustainable development; ethnic differences; USA; United States; ethnicity; religious affiliation; gender; psychological refuge; coping with demand.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2008.020379

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.103 - 116

Published online: 20 Sep 2008 *

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