Looking for the possible mediators, through the literature, I found five mediators: social support, meaning or purpose in life, hope, compassion, and death anxiety.
Do you know of any other mediating variable (preferably with empirical or theoretical evidence) linking religiosity to mental health and well-being, including happiness?
Also, any idea on a model combining all or most of these mediating variables?
Perhaps not a mediator, but a moderator is the religiosity of the individual is only related to positive well-being in cultures where the religion is the norm. Or rather, more religious people have greater mental health in religious cultures but the reverse is true in non-religiously predominant contexts (Diener, Tay, and Myers 2011; Eichhorn 2012; Gebauer, Sedikides, and Neberich 2012; Leurent, et al. 2013; Lun, and Bond 2013; Snoep 2008; Stavrova, Fetchenhauer, and Schlösser 2013).
Described as a mediator then, it could be: culturally normativity mediates the relationship between religiosity and well-being.
Dear Naser,
attachment could be another mediator. See for example:
Leonard, K. C., Cook, K. V., Boyatzis, C. J., Kimball, C. N., & Flanagan, K. S. (2013). Parent-child dynamics and emerging adult religiosity: Attachment, parental beliefs, and faith support. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5(1), 5.
or:
Goeke‐Morey, M. C., Cairns, E., Merrilees, C. E., Schermerhorn, A. C., Shirlow, P., & Cummings, E. M. (2013). Maternal Religiosity, Family Resources and Stressors, and Parent–Child Attachment Security in Northern Ireland. Social Development, 22(1), 19-37.
Regards
Luca
Don't forget the sociodemographic variables like age, gender, literacy etc.
Perhaps not a mediator, but a moderator is the religiosity of the individual is only related to positive well-being in cultures where the religion is the norm. Or rather, more religious people have greater mental health in religious cultures but the reverse is true in non-religiously predominant contexts (Diener, Tay, and Myers 2011; Eichhorn 2012; Gebauer, Sedikides, and Neberich 2012; Leurent, et al. 2013; Lun, and Bond 2013; Snoep 2008; Stavrova, Fetchenhauer, and Schlösser 2013).
Described as a mediator then, it could be: culturally normativity mediates the relationship between religiosity and well-being.
Hi Naser,
A report "How does freedom of religion and belief affect health and well-being?" (2011) by Klocker, Trenerry and Webster, prepared for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton, Victoria, Australia has some interesting data.
According to this review the literature shows that the impacts of religious belief on mental health are generally positive, with the strongest association being the link between religious belief and decreased depression, as well as reduced anxiety and suicide risk, and to a lesser extent, reduced psychotic disorders. Religious belief was also found to be important in helping people to recover from traumatic events.
There was an increased risk of negative mental health effects on two of the measures above: religious orientation and religious coping style. Those at higher risk of negative outcomes were those who were attracted to religion for reasons other than the creed (referred to above as extrinsic religious orientation) and people who used negative religious coping strategies (also described above).
Religious belief was also found to be associated with a reduced likelihood of engaging in risk behavior such as alcohol and drug abuse and cigarette smoking. There were fewer studies investigating the link between religious belief and poor physical health. The available studies suggest only tentative evidence of a reduced risk. However, people engaging in some aspect of religious belief and practice were found to live longer. Reductions in the risk of suicide and certain risky behaviours were especially large for young people, a stage of the life cycle when the risk of these problems is especially high.
Hope this helps.
Best
Zana
You might be interested in the following paper, though it doesn't examine your specific outcomes. It does test a number of mediators.
Musick, M. A., House, J. S., & Williams, D. R. (2004). Attendance at religious services and mortality in a national sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 45(2), 198-213.
Dear Dr.Aghababei,
I recommend this article.I hope it is useful.
The relationship between spiritual well-being, depression, anxiety and stress in the elderly people of hospice and palliative care centers in Shiraz, Ira.
Regards,
The attached article might be of interest to you. It shows that forgiveness of self and others mediates prospective associations between religion/spirituality and depression.
Dear Dr. Aghababei,
As far as mediator not discussed here, there is Idler's theory that a "non-physical sense of self" might help mediate the relationship between religion and well-being. The theory is that as religious worldviews encourage a dualistic thinking of the world (my body and soul/spirit are separate), then for those who are religious but become physically disabled, they are able to see themselves as more than just a damaged body. Theoretically, this might help them to cope better and to have greater well-being. I think Idler has some evidence for this theory.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medicine
- Counseling Psychology