Mechanisms: Religion’s impact on mental health

2021 ◽  
pp. 129-146
Author(s):  
Harold G. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Biological Pathways ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Direct Influence ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter examines the genetic, psychological, social, behavioural, environmental, individual-level, and biological pathways that may help explain the relationship between religion/spirituality (R/S) and mental health. I use spirituality interchangeably with religion, since my use of the term ‘religion’ goes far beyond institutional religion—that is, it includes individual beliefs, practices, and intrinsic commitments related to the Transcendent. No doubt, there are many different ways that R/S might influence mental health in either positive or negative ways. Not only are there likely to be many pathways of direct influence, but also indirect effects that may be difficult to appreciate unless a comprehensive approach is taken. First, I briefly review research on the relationship between R/S and mental health, and then, having established a relationship, attempt to explain it by the multiple pathways noted above.

scholarly journals Disclosure to God as a Mediator Between Private Prayer and Psychological Well-Being in a Christian Sample

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Zarzycka ◽  
Dariusz Krok
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Distress Disclosure ◽  
Private Prayer

Abstract Although a number of studies have reported the psychological and physical benefits of prayer, only a few have examined the means by which prayer affects health. Winkeljohn Black et al. (J Relig Health 54(2):540–553, 2015. 10.1007/s10943-014-9840-4) found disclosure to God as a mediator in the relationship between prayer and mental health. In their study, the authors used Poloma and Pendleton’s (Rev Relig Res 31(1):46–53, 1989. https://doi.org/10.2307/3511023, ) model of prayer. This study examined whether disclosure to God as a mediator can be upheld with Laird et al.’s (Int J Psychol Relig 14(4):251–272, 2004) prayer model. The study included 285 Polish adults (50.2% of women), aged between 18 and 60 years. The Multidimensional Prayer Inventory, the Revised Distress Disclosure Index, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale were applied to the research. The results showed that the prayer of thanksgiving correlated positively and the prayer of supplication negatively with well-being. Two indirect effects were significant, indicating disclosure to God as a mediator of the confession—well-being link and the supplication—well-being link.

scholarly journals Interest consistency can buffer the effect of COVID-19 fear on psychological distress

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Masuyama ◽  
Takahiro Kubo ◽  
Daichi Sugawara ◽  
Yuta Chishima
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Buffering Effect ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Recent Outbreak ◽  
The Relationship

In the context of a recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the present study investigated the buffering effect of grit on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. The data were collected from 224 Japanese participants (98 females; mean age = 46.56, SD = 13.41) in July 2020. The measures used in this study included the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), Short Grit Scale, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21 (DASS). The results of mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects of consistency of interest, a major component of grit, on psychological distress; we also found non-significant indirect effects of perseverance of effort, another major component of grit, on psychological distress. These results suggest that consistency of interest buffers the psychological distress induced by fear of COVID-19. Based on these results, it can be concluded that individuals with higher consistency of interest are less likely to experience worsening of their mental health, even if they experience fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Does Ego-Resilience Impact Friendship Outcomes?

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth B. Lozano ◽  
Mahzad Hojjat ◽  
Judith Sims-Knight
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Ego Resilience ◽  
Maintenance Behaviors ◽  
Received Social Support ◽  
Trait Resilience ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The present study examined the relationship between resilience and positive outcomes in friendships of young adults. SEM and bootstrapping analyses were performed to test whether positive emotions mediate the relationship between ego-resilience and enhanced friendship outcomes. Findings revealed indirect effects for friendship closeness, maintenance behaviors, and received social support. Our findings demonstrate the importance of positive emotions and its connection with trait resilience in the realm of friendships.

Interpersonal Stress and Poor Health

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette M. Aanes ◽  
Maurice B. Mittelmark ◽  
Jørn Hetland
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Total Effect ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Interpersonal Stress ◽  
The Relationship

This paper investigated whether the lack of social connectedness, as measured by the subjective feeling of loneliness, mediates the well-known relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. Furthermore, a relationship between interpersonal stress and somatic symptoms was hypothesized. The study sample included 3,268 women and 3,220 men in Western Norway. The main findings were that interpersonal stress was significantly related to psychological distress as well as to somatic symptoms, both directly and indirectly via paths mediated by loneliness. The size of the indirect effects varied, suggesting that the importance of loneliness as a possible mediator differs for depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and somatic symptoms. In the case of depressive symptoms, more than 75% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness, while in the case of somatic symptoms just over 40% of the total effect was mediated through loneliness. This study supports the hypotheses that social connectedness mediates a relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress. The study also provides the first link between interpersonal stress, as measured by the Bergen Social Relationships Scale, and somatic symptoms, extending earlier research on the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological distress.

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