In search of a theoretical basis for understanding religious coping: initial testing of an explanatory model

Abstract

There is now good evidence that some religious ideas and perspectives have an influence on their adherents’ ability to cope with life stresses. However, there have been few attempts to explain this effect by recourse to experimentally-tested models of human cognition. In the present paper, the author argues that this shortfall both limits the usefulness of statistically-based studies and impedes the acceptance of religious or spiritual care as part of healthcare practice. A model based on that developed by cognitive psychologists of religion is subjected to initial, inductive testing in terms of its ability to explain some of the essential features and counter-intuitive results from the research literature on religious coping. The author concludes that, in the particular context represented by an individual in hospital, the model has significant explanatory potential and clarifies some recurring themes in the literature on coping.

Keywords:

• coping
• cognitive
• spirituality
• religion
• Pargament

Notes

Notes

1. Here and throughout, I have employed the term god to signify a subject's belief in an unseen reality which may or may not be expressed in theistic terms. I have adopted this as the best among a number of unsatisfactory options, since it carries neither the reverence of God or the implied scepticism of “god”. The further implications of these terms will be explored in the course of the paper.

2. Here, “theistic” refers to belief in a single personal god as expressed in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Although Hinduism, for example, includes gods they are not typically understood in a theistic way.