Afterlife beliefs and obligation to obey the law in high adherence contexts: exploring connections among Malaysian youth

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have linked religiosity to a variety of positive outcomes for young people. However, further investigation into the underlying mechanisms that drive this connection is necessary to facilitate these positive outcomes. Some studies have suggested that afterlife reward and punishment beliefs play a role in this connection, as they promote future-oriented thinking. Drawing on Deterrence Theory, this study proposes that afterlife reward and punishment beliefs may also strengthen the obligation to obey the law in youth, thereby avoiding deviant behaviours. As Islamic societies are among the most ardent in believing in the afterlife, this mechanism may be particularly relevant for Muslim youth. To test this hypothesis, data were collected from 303 university students in Malaysia. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the structural validity of the Malaysian version of the afterlife reward and punishment beliefs scale. Hierarchical regression analysis further revealed a positive correlation between afterlife reward and punishment beliefs and obligation to obey the law, with afterlife reward and punishment beliefs significantly explaining variance in obligation to obey the law even after accounting for Muslim religiosity. The study highlights limitations and provides suggestions for future research in this area.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• religiosity
• afterlife beliefs
• obligation to obey the law

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Open Science Framework OSF at https://osf.io/j23r8/?view_only=87f83c99199841c39af000ef17d75770

Institutional review board statement

Ethical approval to carry out this study was granted by all college deans and lecturers involved in data collection, in alignment with the respective universities’ requirements at the time of the study.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been supported by the University Putra Malaysia’s Putra grant scheme [vote number 9518600].

Notes on contributors

Riyad Salim Al-Issa

Riyad Salim Al-Issa is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS) at Universiti Putra Malaysia, with a research interest in youth studies. He explores the nuances of youth religiosity, examining afterlife beliefs and their influence on psychological and behavioural patterns. His efforts aim to shed light on the formative aspects of young individuals’ spiritual lives.

Steven Krauss

Steven Krauss is a Professor with the Dept. of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, and Head of the Youth and Community Well-Being Laboratory of the Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia. Dr. Krauss’ scholarship reflects his commitment to the healthy development of all young people by building supportive ecologies for young people to thrive in schools, families and communities.

Samsilah Roslan

Samsilah Roslan is a Professor and distinguished educator at UPM, specializing in child and youth development. Since 1997, she has made significant strides in research, focusing on special needs education and gifted children. Recognized with several awards, she actively shapes policies and curriculum in her field, while her innovative research is globally acknowledged. She is currently Head of the Psychology Cluster in the Think Tank committee for the Malaysian Institute of Youth Research and Development.

Haslinda Abdullah

Haslinda Abdullah is currently a Director at Institute for Social Science Studies, (IPSAS) UPM and a Professor of Applied Psychology at the Department of Social and Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University Putra Malaysia. Currently her works are more focused on youth and development especially on youth wellbeing and mental health. Her credentials and knowledge on the Malaysian youth is reflected in her role as a member of the think tank for the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia 2018-2020 (IYRES), a statutory body acting as the National youth development research centre under Ministry of Youth and Sports.