Hedonic and Eudaimonic Personal Goals as Motivational Factors to Attend a Religious Mega Event

Abstract

This study aims to explore the significance of hedonic and eudaimonic personal goals as drivers for attending a religious event, and their variability according to demographic variables. World Youth Day (WYD) was selected as a research context, and the sample accounts for 171 valid responses to a face-to-face survey of pilgrims. Data were subjected to a descriptive analysis to identify the level of importance of personal goals, and chi-square tests were also performed to assess the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on personal goals. The results confirm that hedonia and eudaimonia function as drivers of the decision-making process by shaping the motivations that drive individuals to participate in a religious event. Also, it was found that mainly sex, age and country of residence produce variations in personal goals. This study offers further evidence that goes beyond the general motivations of attendants to religious events, contributing to a new theoretical approach, including hedonic and eudaimonic goals.