SPIRITUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE: THE ROLE OF NEW AGE MOVEMENTS IN POST-COMMUNIST ROMANIA
SPIRITUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE: THE ROLE OF NEW AGE MOVEMENTS IN POST-COMMUNIST ROMANIA

Summary/Abstract: This paper investigates the intersection of spirituality and quality of life in post-communist Romania, emphasizing the rise of New Age movements such as yoga, Reiki, astrology, and energy healing. Drawing on existing academic literature, historical accounts, and sociological theory - complemented by an original quantitative survey conducted in June 2025 - the research explores the socio-cultural implications of these spiritual practices. Romania’s spiritual evolution is examined across three historical phases: the interwar period marked by Orthodox dominance and esoteric experimentation, the communist era characterized by religious repression, and the post-1989 era defined by spiritual liberalization and global wellness culture. The article is grounded in multiple theoretical frameworks: Secularization Theory, Subjective Well-Being Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Postmodern Consumer Culture Theory. These models contextualize the emergence of spirituality as a tool for psychological resilience and social affiliation amid institutional erosion and neoliberal transitions. Data from a June 2025 online survey on a sample of 102 respondents engaged in spiritual practices, including yoga, meditation, and energy healing, reveal high levels of participation among women with higher education from urban area, with notable associations between spiritual engagement, perceived emotional resilience, and overall life satisfaction. This interdisciplinary, mixed-methods analysis contributes to understanding how post-communist societies negotiate well-being, belonging, and personal meaning in an era shaped by rapid cultural and economic transformations.

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