RELIGIOUS SECTARIAN INTOLERANCE, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG MALES OF GILGIT-BALTISTAN

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.