Mental Health Religion & Culture

Chalmiers, Morgen A.; Istemi, Fuat; Simsek, Sahin

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2022.2046714pmid: N/A

Over the last two decades, the positive psychology movement has inspired interdisciplinary inquiries into the nature of religious gratitude and its beneficial health effects. However, the majority of this research has been conducted with Christian populations and informed by assumptions about the theological significance of gratitude that are grounded in Judeo-Christian religious traditions. This systematic review identified 125 scholarly articles available in Arabic, English, Farsi, and Turkish related to the topic of religious gratitude to provide a synthesis of the theological significance of gratitude to God within Islamic doctrine and everyday practices, according to the presently available scholarly literature. Empirical findings on the relationship between religious gratitude and mental health among Muslims are analyzed and reviewed, with particular attention paid to the metrics and methodological approaches employed by authors in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts. From this qualitative synthesis, the authors propose promising areas for future research on this topic.

Tiwari, Gyanesh Kumar; Pandey, Ruchi; Parihar, Priyanka; Rai, Pramod Kumar

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2238642pmid: N/A

The study examined the mediating role of self-esteem between the relationship of self-forgiveness and human flourishing. Using a correlational design, 214 participants (M = 22.07 years) were chosen by convenience sampling method. The results revealed a significant interdependence between self-esteem, self-forgiveness, and human flourishing, as reflected in their positive correlations. Self-esteem and self-forgiveness accounted for a significant variability in human flourishing. Mediational analyses showed self-esteem to be a significant partial mediator between relationships of self-forgiveness and human flourishing. Self-esteem represents self-worth and personal values, which are essential ingredients in preparing people to forgive themselves, which in turn, may cultivate positive affects and cognitions that lead to flourishing. Self-esteem helps to understand transgressing situations and the precise role of different stakeholders, which may have facilitated self-forgiveness and ultimately flourishing. In essence, self-esteem and self-forgiveness are relevant to understanding human flourishing, and the impacts of self-forgiveness on flourishing are mediated by self-esteem.

Dadfar, Mahboubeh; Lester, David; Turan, Yahya; Beshai, James A.

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2022.2047912pmid: N/A

The aim of the study was to explore the association between Belief in Day of Judgment (BDJ) and belief in locus of control (LCS) in samples from three nations: Iran, Turkey and the USA. A scale devised by Beshai and Lester to measure Belief in a Day of Judgment (BDJS) and Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale (MLCS) for internal, powerful others, or chance loci of control were administered to 386 students. Age was not associated with BDJ in the American students, while sex was not associated with BDJ for any of the three samples. The Iranian sample had higher scores for internal control, while the Turkish sample had higher scores for BDJ. In addition, belief in an internal locus of control predicted BDJ, but only for the Iranian sample. Thus, there were differences between these three cultures in their mean score for BDJ and LCS and the associations between the scale scores.

Safara, Maryam; Salmabadi, Mojtaba; Koohestani, Hamid Reza

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2220107pmid: N/A

The present study aimed to investigate the roles of psychological strength and attachment styles to God in predicting Covid-19 anxiety in Iranian nurses.‏ A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 nurses in July 2021. The subjects answered the questionnaires of psychological strength, attachment to God, and anxiety of Covid-19. The results showed a negative correlation between psychological strength and Covid-19 anxiety (r = −.894; p < .01) and a negative correlation between secure attachment style and Covid-19 anxiety (r = −.522; p < .01). But the correlation between avoidant attachment styles(r = .387;p < .01) and ambivalent attachment styles(r = .312; p < .01) with Covid-19 anxiety was positive. Also, the coefficient of determination showed that the components of psychological strength and attachment styles to God up to 81% can explain the variance of Covid-19 anxiety.‏ Based on the research results, by investing in attachment styles to God and promoting psychological strength, we can take steps to reduce Covid-19 anxiety in nurses.‏

Fayaz, Irfan

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2237909pmid: N/A

The study aims to systematically review the relationship between religiosity and posttraumatic growth in populations exposed to armed conflict. A search of the published literature identified 06 empirical studies that reported links between religiosity and posttraumatic growth in armed conflict. This review identified three main findings. First, a relationship exists between religiosity and PTG in the context of armed conflict. Second, religious coping was found to be associated with the development of posttraumatic growth. Third, the traumatic experiences from armed conflict can lead to the deepening of religiosity. This review highlights that while the available evidence is limited, individuals’ religious and spiritual beliefs can significantly influence their ability to thrive and experience growth after trauma from armed conflict.

Timbers, Veronica L.; Gandy, Megan E.; Paciak, Ryan; Hopwood, Ruben A.

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2245351pmid: N/A

Research has presented a dual-sided reality of the positive and negative influences of religion in the lives of transgender and gender expansive (TGE) individuals. This qualitative study utilises a phenomenological approach to explore how positive experiences in faith communities impact TGE individuals. Using inductive, thematic analysis of interviews with nine TGE participants, we look at why participants entered into faith communities and what factors lead them to stay. TGE participants described four main factors that influenced them to seek out a faith community: interpersonal relationships, LGBTQ + visibility, importance of community in personal meaning-making, and connection with God. TGE participants chose to stay in their faith communities because of acceptance and affirmation, major anchoring events, and opportunities for participation. This research provides mental health clinicians with information about the positive religious experiences of TGE individuals and suggestions to support clients at the intersection of religious and TGE identities.

Aditya, Yonathan; Martoyo, Ihan; Ariela, Jessica; Pramono, Rudy

doi: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2237915pmid: N/A

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress and anxiety and decreased life satisfaction, especially for those with a high level of neuroticism. In a religious country such as Indonesia, this pandemic may cause people, including college students, to feel anger toward God. Previous studies found that certain behaviours moderate the effect of neuroticism on life satisfaction. This study investigated the moderating effects of positive and negative attitudes toward God. A moderation analysis was performed on data obtained from 367 Christian and 547 Muslim students from 10 universities in the Jakarta metropolitan area. The findings revealed that a positive attitude toward God significantly moderates the connection between neuroticism and life satisfaction for Christians, whereas a negative attitude toward God does not moderate the same connection for both Muslims and Christians. The implications of this study are discussed below.