Pre- and Post-Pandemic Religiosity and Mental Health Outcomes: A Prospective Study

Connie Svob, Eleanor Murphy (), Priya J. Wickramaratne, Marc J. Gameroff, Ardesheer Talati, Milenna T. van Dijk, Tenzin Yangchen and Myrna M. Weissman
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Connie Svob: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Eleanor Murphy: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Priya J. Wickramaratne: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Marc J. Gameroff: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Ardesheer Talati: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Milenna T. van Dijk: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Tenzin Yangchen: Division of Translational Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
Myrna M. Weissman: Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Relatively few studies have prospectively examined the effects of known protective factors, such as religion, on pandemic-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pre- and post-pandemic trajectories and psychological effects of religious beliefs and religious attendance. Male and female adults ( N = 189) reported their beliefs in religious importance ( RI ) and their religious attendance ( RA ) both before ( T1 ) and after ( T2 ) the pandemic’s onset. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to track RI and RA from T1 to T2 and to test their effects on psychological outcomes at T1 and T2. The participants who reported a decrease in religious importance and attendance were greater in number than those who reported an increase, with RI (36.5% vs. 5.3%) and RA (34.4% vs. 4.8%). The individuals with decreased RI were less likely to know someone who had died from COVID-19 (O.R. =0.4, p = 0.027). The T1 RI predicted overall social adjustment ( p < 0.05) and lower suicidal ideation ( p = 0.05). The T2 RI was associated with lower suicidal ideation ( p < 0.05). The online RA ( T2 ) was associated with lower depression ( p < 0.05) and lower anxiety ( p < 0.05). Further research is needed to evaluate the mechanisms driving decreases in religiosity during pandemics. Religious beliefs and online religious attendance were beneficial during the pandemic, which bodes well for the use of telemedicine in therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: pandemic; religion; depression; anxiety; psychology; longitudinal; risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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