Faith, Devotion and Well-Being Among Indian Youth

Abstract

Contemporary Indian youth negotiate questions of meaning, identity, ethical responsibility and well-being within a rapidly changing social, educational and digital environment. This conceptual paper examines faith, devotion and disciplined action as interconnected pathways through which young people may develop meaning, relational connectedness, ethical agency and broader human well-being. Faith is conceptualized as a source of meaning and value orientation; devotion as an affective and relational commitment; disciplined action as the translation of values into responsible conduct; and social engagement as the outward expression of these orientations. Particular attention is given to generational and technological transformation. Gen X, Millennials/Gen Y and Gen Z are considered as analytical cohorts experiencing different environments of cultural transmission rather than as homogeneous psychological categories. Recent research involving Indian young adults reports significant relationships between spirituality, self-efficacy and well-being, while qualitative research among Gen Y and Gen Z in Mumbai demonstrates the growing importance of digital religious content alongside continuing family influence. The paper argues that contemporary youth spirituality is neither exclusively traditional nor exclusively digital; rather, it is increasingly hybrid, negotiated and context-dependent. The proposed Faith–Devotion–Disciplined Action–Well-Being (FDDA-W) framework integrates philosophical, psychological, educational and digital perspectives and generates nine propositions for future empirical testing. The paper contributes a culturally grounded conceptual model for examining human well-being among contemporary Indian youth.