Religious institutional frequency as an essential activity: An investigation into mental health and organizational religiosity

• Autor(a) principal: Bianchini Porfírio, Gustavo
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Livingstone Alves Figueiredo, David, Simão-Silva, Daiane Priscila, Melhem, Abrão José Junior
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Rever (São Paulo. Online)
• Texto Completo: https://revistas.pucsp.br/index.php/rever/article/view/56868
• topic: Pandemic; Psychology of Religion and Spirituality; Religious coping; Religious practices; Pandemia; Psicologia da Religião e da Espiritualidade; Coping religioso; Práticas religiosas

The present study sought to explore and investigate the possible relationships between institutional religious attendance and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. A quantitative, transversal, and descriptive-correlational research methodology was conducted with volunteers who answered an online form. The number of respondents analyzed was 224. Among these, 58% are Catholics, and 42% are Evangelicals. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was a predictor of “attending less to a religious institution during the pandemic” (OR 2.5). More significant anxiety symptoms were reported in females, younger people, Catholics, and respondents who reported a lower feeling of closeness to God and lower maintenance of religious practices during the pandemic. A higher rate of Organizational (OR) and Non-Organizational (RNO) Religiosity was observed among Evangelicals and high RI for Evangelicals and Catholics. Among men and evangelicals, higher attendance to religious institutions was associated with lower anxiety levels. Higher education level was associated with lower anxiety symptoms and lower religious attendance. Influences of doctrinal aspects of the Protestant Reformation may have influenced the differences observed in the indices of religiosity between Catholics and Evangelicals. Our data emphasize religious institutions’ role in the congregants’ psycho-emotional support. The understanding of mental health and associated factors is complex. The present study highlights this complexity and reinforces the importance of further studies.