11/20 religion, spirituality, and well-being

phones and social interactions

having phone → (less effect/ more diffculty) w/ social conectedness → (b/c there was social interactions) → mood. having phone → (less diffculty) finding the building → (lower energy) mood

Phones and Social Interaction (results for mood)

In some ways, phones can improve our well-being by making our day-to-day lives easier (e.g., less difficulty finding where we need to go); In other ways, phones can hurt our well-being by reducing our social connections with others

Dwyer et al. (2018) had groups of 3-5 friends or family members go to a café to have a meal together (phone vs no phone)

in phone condition: Lower enjoyment; Higher distraction; Higher boredom; Lower well-being

phubbing

the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by looking at your phone instead of paying attention (when friend checks phone during mel & you’re talking now so its awkward)

Why does phone use during time spent with close others hurt our
relationships? (Vanden Abeele, 2020)

1. Expectancy violations (Violates our expectations for appropriate behavior from others); 2. Ostracism (Feeling excluded threatens our need to belong and feelings of self-worth); 3. Attentional conflict (Attention drawn away from the partner and increased distractions)

Spirituality

one’s internal and personal relation to the divine, sacred, or transcendent

Religion

a common set of beliefs, practices, and rituals related to

the divine, sacred, or transcendent (Rooted in an established tradition that arises out of a group of people with common beliefs and practices; Often organized and practiced within communities and institutions; Religious institutions support spirituality)

Increasing identification with spiritual but not religious (SBNR)

Have idiosyncratic beliefs that don’t fit well in with a religion; Less likely to hold monotheistic beliefs about God; Less likely to believe in God as a personal being, but more as a cosmic force; More likely to adopt an individualistic ethic as opposed to biblical or conventionalist ethic

What about non-believers (e.g., atheists, agnostics)? (Uzarevic & Coleman, 2021). Also a growing amount of the population

Characterized by more than simply low religiosity or spirituality (i.e., non-belief is not solely a lack of religious belief); Tend to value rationality and belief in science; Hold egalitarian and liberal worldviews; Value moral foundations of care and fairness over purity, loyalty, and authority

discussing the health/well-being benefits of R/S

does not mean that nonbelief is a liability

Psychological mechanisms of R/S

drive its health/well-being benefits, and not the specific content of the religion itself

Koenig (2012)

provide a scoping review of the role of religion and spirituality on well-being and health

Koenig (2012) results (higher personal well-being)

religious and spirituality related to higher personal well-being: Happiness and life satisfaction; Hope and optimism; Meaning and purpose in life; Self-esteem

Koenig (2012) results (better mental health)

Less depression; Lower anxiety; Fewer suicidal thoughts and attempts; Lower substance abuse

Koenig (2012) results (better health behaviors)

Less cigarette smoking; Greater exercise and physical activity; Less risky sexual behavior (Results among diet and weight are more mixed)

R/S related to better physical health

More strongly related to self-reported physical health and also linked to objective measures (Lower coronary heart disease, Lower hypertension, Greater longevity); unrelated to serious health concerns (cancer progression)

Koenig (2012) proposed a model identifying mechanisms through which R/S benefits physical health and longevity

religion/ spirituality (strength of religious belief, how often they pray) → promotion of character virtures (patience, forgiveness, gratitude) → positive emotions and strengthened relationships → better physiological functioning health, and longevity

Religious coping

involves the use of religion or spirituality to manage stress (pos or neg)

Positive religious coping

involves turning to R/S in ways that imply an optimistic, proactive engagement with R/S

Negative religious coping

involves turning to R/S in ways characterized by struggle or distress

People may use religion to cope in many different situations to achieve different purposes

1) Religious methods of coping to find meaning, 2) Religious methods of coping to gain control or mastery, 3) Religious methods of coping to gain comfort and closeness to God, 4) Religious methods of coping to gain intimacy with others and closeness to God, 5) Religious methods of coping to achieve a life transformation

Religious methods of coping to find meaning

Benevolent religious reappraisal: redefining the stressor through religion as benevolent and potentially beneficial (i saw my situation as part of God’s plan), Punishing god reappraisal: redefining the stressor as punishment from God for the individual’s sins (i decided that God was punishing me for my sins)

Religious methods of coping to gain control or mastery

Collaborative religious coping: seeking control through a partnership with God in problem-solving (“I tried to put my plans into action together with God”), Passive religious deferral: passively waiting for God to control the situation (I didn’t do much, just expected God to solve my problems for me”)

Religious methods of coping to gain comfort and closeness to God

Seeking spiritual support: searching for comfort and reassurance through God’s love and care (“I trusted that God would be by my side”); Spiritual discontent: expressing confusion and dissatisfaction with God’s relationship to the individual in the stressful situation (“I wondered whether God had abandoned me)

Religious methods of coping to gain intimacy with others and closeness to God

Religious helping: attempting to provide spiritual support and comfort to others (“I prayed for the well-being of others”), Interpersonal religious discontent: expressing confusion and dissatisfaction with the relationship of clergy or members to the individual in the stressful situation (“I disagreed with what the church wanted me to do or believe”)

Religious methods of coping to achieve a life transformation

Seeking religious direction: looking to religion for assistance in finding a new direction for living when the old one may no longer be viable (“I prayed to discover my purpose in living”). Religious forgiving: looking to religion for help in shifting from anger, hurt, and fear associated with an offense to peace (“I sought help from God in letting go of my anger”)

Meta-analysis conducted on how religious coping relates to psychologica adjustment (Ano & Vasconcelles, 2005)

49 studies with over 13,000 participants (57% Protestant, 28% Catholic, 13% other religious affiliations (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism)). Effects have been more recently replicated focusing on these populations

Positive forms of religious coping are associated with benefits:

Stress-related growth, Spiritual growth, Happiness, Self-esteem, Life satisfaction, Purpose in life

Negative forms of religious coping are associated with costs

Poorer physical health (i.e., more illness symptoms), Greater psychological distress (i.e., sadness, anxiety, anger) surrounding the stressor and in general (how we use religion to cope with life stressors can help explain when R/S helps or hurts health and well-being)

Attachment theory

has been applied in understanding people’s personal relationship with God (benefits of R/S may also depend on people’s personal relationship with the divine)

Relationship with Religion/Spirituality

secure attachment, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment

A secure attachment

assumes that a healthy relationship with God is close, personal, consistent, predictable, and readily available. how we view our personal relationship with the divine can help explain when R/S helps or hurts health and well-being

anxious attachment

captures feelings of safety and security (low anxiety) versus anxiety and insecurity (high anxiety); (has Higher adult attachment anxiety, Higher general anxiety, Stronger image of God as controlling, Weaker image of a loving image of God)

avoidant attachment

captures feelings of warmth and closeness (low avoidance) versus distance and avoidance (high avoidance); (Higher adult attachment anxiety (not avoidance!), Higher neuroticism, More strongly related to controlling images of God and low loving images of God than attachment anxiety)