Buddhist Beliefs and Subjective Well-Being: A Narrative Review

Abstract

This narrative review synthesizes theoretical perspectives and empirical findings on the relationship between Buddhist beliefs and subjective well-being (SWB). Although mindfulness-based constructs derived from Buddhism have been widely studied in psychological science, the broader role of explicitly Buddhist belief systems remains conceptually fragmented and empirically underintegrated. Drawing on literature retrieved from major academic databases, the review examines how Buddhist belief has been operationalized, evaluates evidence linking Buddhist-related orientations to SWB, and identifies key psychological mechanisms.