Negative Life Events, Patterns of Positive and Negative Religious Coping, and Psychological Functioning
Abstract
Religious coping may or may not be adaptive depending upon whether such coping is positive or negative. We investigated the potential moderating effects of positive and negative religious coping patterns on the relationship between negative life events and psychological functioning. Questionnaires included measures of negative life events, positive and negative religious coping, and psychological functioning, and were completed by 336 adult, Protestant church members. Even after controlling for religious participation, negative events were related to increased use of positive and negative religious coping and decreased psychological functioning. Moreover, negative events and positive religious coping produced an interaction effect on depression, such that the high use of positive religious coping buffered the deleterious effects of negative events.
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Positive religious coping behaviors such as turning to prayer or finding meaning in difficult situations may translate into reduced risk for longer-term mental health problems.
“Further, one's faith and the use of positive religious coping behaviors such as turning to prayer or finding meaning in difficult situations (e.g., Bjorck et al. 2007; Mahamid & Bdier, 2021) may similarly translate into reduced risk for longer-term mental health problems.”
From I've Seen Enough: Measuring the Toll of Content Moderation on Mental Health (2025) · cites this paper as Bjorck et al. 2007
When religion forms part of how people cope, the outcome can be positive.
“When religion forms part of how people cope, the outcome can be positive (see Bjorck & Thurman 2007:159;Vandecreek et al. 2004:50;Wasserman, Weisman & Suro 2013:16).”
From https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i3.4525 · cites this paper as Bjorck & Thurman 2007:159
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References 30 · Cited by 184
- Authors
- BJORCK, J. P., & THURMAN, J. W.
- Affiliations
- Fuller Theological Seminary (US)
- Corresponding author
- BJORCK, JEFFREY P.
- THURMAN, JOHN W.
- ORCID
- BJORCK, JEFFREY P.
- Venue
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-05-15
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 159-167
- ISSN
- 0021-8294 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-5906
- OpenAlex
- W2088659418
- Cited by
- 184
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 7.37
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Keywords
- religious coping, positive religious coping, negative religious coping, negative life events, psychological functioning, depression, buffering effect, moderating effect, religious participation
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