Abstract:
The research investigates the psycho influence of religious sectarian intolerance on males' life
satisfaction in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, and the role of perceived Social support as a mediator.
Religious and Social pluralism characterize the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, yet it has seen increasing
sectarian tension, especially among Shia and Sunni communities, and this has direct implications
for both cohesion and personal well-being. With a quantitative, correlational design, the study
investigates the intercorrelations between religious sectarian intolerance, perceived Social support,
and life satisfaction among 300 male Shia and Sunni sect participants. Self-administered
questionnaires were used to collect data, and statistical analyses such as correlation, regression, and
mediation analyses were performed using SPSS. The results show a strong negative correlation
between sectarian intolerance and life satisfaction, suggesting that increased intolerance is linked with decreased well-being. Perceived Social support was identified as a protective factor, which
was positively correlated with life satisfaction and partially mediated the adverse effects of
sectarian intolerance. The research points to the value of Social support networks in building
resilience and well-being in the context of sectarian conflict. It also highlights the necessity of
policy interventions, educational change, and grassroots initiatives to foster interfaith dialogue,
cohesion, and mental health care in Gilgit-Baltistan. The study adds to the knowledge of the
intersection of sectarian conflict, Social identity, and psychological well-being and provides
insights for analogous contexts around the world.
