How religious coping is used relative to other coping strategies depends on the individual's level of religiosity and spirituality

Medicine for the soul: (Non)religious identity, coping, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Although the threat and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant source of distress, using religion to cope may be associated with more positive health. Given the severity and chronicity of the pandemic, religious individuals may also have relied on a variety of non-religious coping methods. Much of the existing COVID-19 research overlooks the role of religious group membership and beliefs in relation to coping responses and associated mental health, with an additional lack of such research within the Canadian context. Thus, this cross-sectional study investigated relations among religiosity, stressor appraisals, (both religious and non-religious) coping strategies, mental and physical health in a religiously-diverse Canadian community sample (N = 280) during the pandemic's 2nd wave from March to June 2021. Numerous differences were apparent in appraisal-coping methods and health across five (non)religious groups (i.e., Atheists, Agnostics, "Spiritual but not religious", Christians, and those considered to be religious "Minorities" in Canada). Religiosity was also associated with better mental health, appraisals of the pandemic as a challenge from which one might learn or grow, and a greater reliance on problem-focused, emotional-engagement, and religious coping. Moreover, both problem-focused and emotional-engagement coping mediated the relations between religiosity and health. Taken together, this research has implications for individual-level coping as well as informing culturally-sensitive public health messages promoting targeted self-care recommendations with integrated religious or spiritual elements during times of threat and uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quality of Life as Perceived by Elite Mountain Athletes in Spain

INTRODUCTION

Physical activity is a great remedy to prevent diseases, as well as to keep us healthy and improve our physical, mental, and social health. One of the many benefits of physical exercise is emotional regulation, which allows us to provide an adequate response to everyday situations in addition to controlling our own emotions. High-level athletes face multifactorial stressors that can affect their quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We explored the relationship between quality of life and emotional regulation using questionnaires that measure self-reported quality of life and how they cope with stressful situations in 54 mountain athletes with a mean age of 21.88 (SD = 7.88). We also investigated gender differences and demographic location in this population, as they are subjected to very high moments of stress in competition, with the risk that this modality entails.

RESULTS

Rural areas have better physical and psychological health, with higher scores on quality of life and adaptation dimensions. Women have a worse quality of life, specifically in psychological health, with worse coping mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to design strategies that improve these mechanisms, specifically in urban areas and the female sex, to improve their emotional regulation and quality of life.

The co-moderating effect of social support and religiosity in the association between psychological distress and coping strategies in a sample of lebanese adults

BACKGROUND

Coping involves attempts to mitigate the negative repercussions of stressful situations including psychological distress. The aim of this study was to assess factors affecting coping and examine the role of social support and religiosity in moderating the association between psychological distress and coping strategies in a sample of Lebanese adults.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out between May and July 2022, enrolling 387 participants. The study participants were asked to complete a self-administered survey containing the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Arabic Version, the Mature Religiosity Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Coping Strategies Inventory-Short Form.

RESULTS

Higher levels of social support and mature religiosity were significantly associated with higher problem- and emotion-focused engagement scores and lower problem- and emotion-focus disengagement scores. In people experiencing high psychological distress, having low mature religiosity was significantly associated with higher problem-focused disengagement, seen at all levels of social support. In people experiencing high psychological distress, having moderate mature religiosity was significantly associated with higher problem-focused disengagement, seen at both moderate and high levels of social support.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide novel insight into the moderating effect of mature religiosity in the association between psychological distress and coping strategies affecting adaptive behavior to stress.

Deep Brain Stimulation in Early-Stage Parkinson's Disease: Patient Experience after 11 Years

The deep brain stimulation (DBS) in early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) pilot trial began more than a decade ago and remains the only investigation of DBS in mildly symptomatic patients. Patients completed therapeutic washouts biannually for two years, outpatient assessments through five years, and a longitudinal washout assessment after 11 years. Here, the patient experience of participating in the early DBS pilot trial is described. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded, analyzed using an iterative inductive-deductive approach, and used to develop a conceptual framework. Ten participants (n = 6 early optimal drug therapy (ODT), n = 4 early DBS + ODT) were interviewed. Motivations for participation included benefit to future PD patients and potential personal benefit, while hesitations included risk of surgical complications. While early ODT patients who received standard-of-care DBS described significant changes in their functional capacities after surgery, early DBS patients described a maintenance of quality of life that made PD less impactful over an extended period. Patients expressed high satisfaction with trial participation and early DBS. This study suggests that the PD experience with early DBS may notably differ from standard-of-care DBS. The FDA has approved the conduct of a pivotal clinical trial evaluating DBS in early-stage PD (IDEG050016).

Coping with Trauma and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Exploring Intentions and Lay Beliefs about Appropriate Strategies among Asylum-Seeking Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany

Asylum-seekers are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to frequent exposure to trauma. We investigated the coping intentions and lay beliefs about appropriate coping strategies among asylum-seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa in Germany. The study applied a methodological triangulation strategy with a vignette describing symptoms of PTSD. In a quantitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 119) that were predominantly from Eritrea (n = 41), Somalia (n = 36), and Cameroon (n = 25), and a native comparison sample (n = 120) responded to questionnaires assessing coping, traumatic events, and post-traumatic symptoms. In a qualitative part, asylum-seekers (n = 26) discussed coping strategies in focus groups. In the quantitative part, asylum-seekers displayed higher intentions for religious coping, emotional support, and denial compared to the native participants. Asylum-seekers with a higher symptom load expressed lower intentions to seek instrumental support. Asylum-seekers with a lower educational level and those with a higher symptom load expressed higher intentions for substance use. In the qualitative part, we identified three superordinate themes: (a) religion, (b) social support systems, and (c) cognitive strategies. Asylum-seekers expressed coping intentions that are associated with an adaptive response to trauma. Less-educated asylum-seekers with a higher symptom load might constitute a particularly vulnerable group.

Pathways Between Religiosity and Tooth Loss in Older Adults in Brazil

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the direct and indirect pathways between religiosity and tooth loss in older adults from Brazil. We analyzed the data of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging, a nationally representative study of individuals aged 50 years or older. The pathways were analyzed through structural equation modeling. A total of 9073 individuals were evaluated. It was observed that oral hygiene and smoking were mediators of the relationship between religiosity and tooth loss, through spirituality and social support, respectively. Spirituality also directly influenced the tooth loss.

Post-Traumatic Growth during COVID-19: The Role of Perceived Social Support, Personality, and Coping Strategies

Although many studies on mental health have been conducted among various populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies have focused on post-traumatic growth (PTG) in the general population. The current study aimed to explore whether perceived social support, personality, and coping strategies are associated with PTG in the COVID-19 pandemic period. The study also investigated whether coping strategies mediate the relations between perceived social support, personality, and PTG. A total of 181 participants (M_age = 24) completed the self-report questionnaire online, which was distributed via various online channels, mainly in China and Sweden. The relations between the study variables were examined with correlation analyses and a multiple mediation analysis. Results showed that more than half of the participants (60.8%) reported experiences of PTG during the pandemic. Additionally, perceived social support, personality traits (extraversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and social support coping) were positively correlated with PTG. In addition, coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance coping) mediated the relations between perceived social support, personality traits and PTG. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed, concluding that the findings of this study have the potential to guide intervention efforts to promote positive change during the pandemic.

Associations between religiosity and perinatal anxiety symptoms among women of Mexican descent

BACKGROUND

Over half of pregnant women experience anxiety symptoms, however perinatal mental health disparities exist. Women of Mexican descent exhibit higher levels of anxiety symptoms which may be linked to sociocultural stressors. However, little is known about culturally relevant factors that may protect against anxiety in this fast-growing population, such as religiosity, an important facet of Mexican culture.

METHODS

Pregnant women of Mexican descent (n = 197) were recruited from a local community clinic and followed into the postpartum period. Women completed surveys assessing religiosity, acculturation, acculturative stress, and anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

Higher levels of religiosity were associated with lower levels of anxiety symptoms throughout pregnancy, but not postpartum (b = -1.01, p = .002). Additionally, religiosity significantly buffered the relationship between acculturative stress and anxiety symptoms during early (R² = .13, b = -.12, p = .041), mid- (R² = .19, b = -.19, p < .001) and late pregnancy (R² = .14, b = -.13, p = .023), and at six weeks postpartum (R² = .08, b = -.12, R² = .08, p = .016).

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited to women of Mexican descent and it is possible that other immigrant groups may exhibit different patterns of religiosity and anxiety symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that religiosity may be protective against maternal anxiety among women of Mexican descent, which has important implications for culturally relevant perinatal interventions and treatments.

Spirituality, Religiosity and Coping Strategies Among Spanish People Diagnosed with Cancer

The present study evaluates the influence of spirituality/religiosity (S/R) on the coping strategies used by people with cancer (breast and prostate) compared with those without cancer, in a sample of 445 Spanish participants (160 with cancer and 285 without). Significant interactions between the presence of cancer and S/R are observed in the use of coping strategies such as religion, humor and disconnection. Spirituality as a predictor variable through the use of religion as a strategy, increased the explanatory capacity of age by 58.9% (β = .794) while praying/talking to God predicts the use of this strategy with a β = .383. In people with cancer, active coping was predicted by spirituality (β = .327). However, spirituality was a negative predictor of maladaptive coping, with a beta coefficient equal to .383. The data suggest that patients' beliefs need to be considered by health care professionals when designing interventions.

The Factor Structure of the Brief Cope: A Systematic Review

The Brief COPE is a widely used measure of coping that contains 28 items on 14 factors. Researchers have shortened the inventory, but the factor structure remains debated. A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies published in English between 1997 and 2021 was conducted to determine if a more parsimonious number of factors could be identified. Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Medline, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched using keywords "Brief COPE" and "factor, valid*, or psychometric.*" Searching yielded 573 articles; cited references added 38; 85 articles met inclusion criteria. Principal components analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were major analytic strategies used (28% and 27%, respectively). Only eight studies analyzed the original 14-factor structure. Factors identified ranged from 2 to 15, with dichotomous factors most frequently identified (25%; n = 21). A smaller number of factors may be able to represent the Brief COPE. Research is needed to test a condensed instrument.

New Zealand Religious Community Responses to COVID-19 While Under Level 4 Lockdown

Social scientific research into the impact of COVID-19 on religious communities is emergent. This research combines interview data (n = 12) collected, as New Zealand moved into Level 3-Restrict and then Level 4-Lockdown, with Facebook and online news media analysis to understand how religious leaders and their communities responded to COVID-19. Our data found four challenges: (1) The requirement to reassess worship practices, (2) the need to mitigate any potential for community transmission, (3) significant difficulties related to social distancing for communal religious practices, and lastly, (4) welfare and pastoral concerns for congregations and others in need.

The relationship between personality dimensions, spirituality, coping strategies and clinical clerkship satisfaction among intern nursing students: a cross-sectional study

Background

The clinical clerkship is a crucial stage in nursing training, yet a dissatisfaction at this stage may cause a nurse to quit in future. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among personality dimensions, spirituality, coping strategies and clinical clerkship satisfaction among intern nursing students.

Methods

This was a correlational, cross-sectional study. A total of 293 Iranian nursing students, who were fulfilling their clinical clerkship at university-affiliated hospitals in Tehran, were selected using cluster random sampling. All participants were provided with standard questionnaires including personality dimensions (NEO_FFI), spirituality, coping strategies (WoCQ), and satisfaction with clinical clerkship. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression.

Results

The results showed that spirituality (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), problem-focused coping (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and extraversion (of personality dimensions, β = 0.22, p < 0.001) played significant roles in predicting clinical clerkship satisfaction among intern nursing students. Regression analysis showed openness (β = 0.14, p < 0.01), extraversion (β = 0.16, p < 0.01), and spirituality (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) could significantly predict problem-focused coping style among intern nursing students. However, personality dimensions and spirituality were not good predictors for emotion-focused coping among these students (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Personality dimensions, coping strategies and, in particular, spirituality are good predictors of clinical clerkship satisfaction among intern nursing students. Therefore, paying attention to spiritual needs in nursing students, improving their problem solving skills in dealing with clinical stress and training extraversion characteristics can be effective in enhancing their satisfaction with clinical clerkship.

The Mediating Effect of Coping Strategies on Religious/Spiritual Struggles and Life Satisfaction

A growing number of researchers are testing potential problematic forms of religiousness that denote anxieties regarding sacred matters. However, only a few studies have assessed how religious/spiritual struggle is associated with positive outcomes. Because people’s coping responses to stressors are key determinants of their well-being, we expected that different coping strategies could be potential mediators between religious problems/tensions and life satisfaction. The research was conducted on a group of 744 Roman Catholics. We used the Religious Comfort and Strain Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) questionnaire. The outcomes show that religious comfort correlated positively with life satisfaction, while fear/guilt, negative emotions toward God, and negative social interactions surrounding religion correlated negatively with life satisfaction. Our research amplifies the understanding of the religious/spiritual struggles and life satisfaction relationship, mediated by “secular” coping strategies. It confirms that both religious and secular methods of experiencing different strains seem to coexist with multiple other strategies in the context of broadly understood life satisfaction.

Exploring Religiosity and Spirituality in Coping With Sport Injuries

The purpose of this study was to explore religiosity/spirituality (R/S) in coping with sport injuries, based on predictions of the integrated model of psychological response to the sport injury and rehabilitation process. A concurrent mixed methods design framed an online survey incorporating quantitative measures of R/S identification and commitment, health locus of control for sport injury, and ways of coping with sport injury, as well as qualitative open-ended questions about mechanisms through which R/S affected and was affected by coping with sport injuries. Participants included 49 physically active adults who experienced sport injuries, with 37 identifying as R/S. Quantitative findings among R/S participants showed religious commitment was a predictor of God health locus of control and positive religious coping. Quantitative results relative to differences between R/S and no-R/S participants showed that those self-identified as R/S relied on a God health locus of control and utilized active coping more so than did those self-identified as no-R/S, whereas no-R/S participants relied more than did R/S participants on an internal health locus of control. Thematic analyses exploring qualitative data revealed three main themes characterizing mechanisms through which R/S affected and was affected by coping with sport injuries: positive, negative, and no R/S coping strategies and effects. Findings support the predictions of the integrated model of psychological response to the sport injury and rehabilitation process and provide evidence-bases for clinical and counseling interventions that reflect cultural competence in accommodating patient or client R/S during recovery from sport injury.

Religious Coping in Caregiver of Patients with Acquired Brain Injuries

Caregivers play a crucial role in physical and psychological management in terms of assistance. For this reason, it is important for caregivers to find better coping strategies to minimize a possible physical and emotional burden. The aim of our study is to demonstrate how the religious coping can influence the burden of caregivers about health care of patients with severe brain injuries. Caregivers were, respectively, divided into two groups: 31 religious believers and 20 unbelievers. We submitted the questionnaires to participants, which investigate the caregiver burden, presence of depressive symptoms and kind of coping strategies adopted. Our results demonstrated that participants with religious belief used avoidance strategies more frequently compared to non-believers' group. We want to improve adaptive coping strategies to upgrade the awareness of caregiver, supporting burden and distress. A problem-solving training might improve quality of life in terms of social and psychological wellness.

Religious education can contribute to adolescent mental health in school settings

Background

Mental disorders contribute substantial burden to the society due to their widespread occurrence and debilitating effects. A quarter of the world’s population are children and adolescents, a significant number of whom experience mental disorders as early as the age of 14. Some interventions have been found to effectively reduce the risk factors and reinforce protective or preventive factors. However, there is still a need to put emphasis on mental health promotion strategies such as religious education. This paper aims to discuss the importance of religious education in promoting mental health.

Discussion

Religious education can be instrumental to improving adolescent mental health. Specifically, it can: (1) help develop healthier reaction to stimuli through the internalization of religious morality; (2) reinforce religious coping mechanisms which reduce the impact of stresses, enhance coping skills, and promote a less risky lifestyle; (3) increase awareness regarding religious beliefs and practices and their influence on the individual, the family, and the community; and finally, (4) promote connectedness which can enhance self-esteem and well-being. However, negative health outcomes such as discrimination and social isolation can also develop, especially among religious or gender minority groups.

Conclusion

It is important to reflect on the crucial role of religious education on adolescent mental health. School-based mental health education and promotion strategies can maximize the benefits of religious education by putting emphasis on effective implementation of religious education to positively influence adolescent mental health.

Does Religion Predict Health-Promoting Behaviors in Community-Dwelling Elderly People?

As the aging phenomenon gains importance in many societies, regular health-promoting activities by the elderlies become more crucial for disability reduction and their health promotion. Religious viewpoints and perspectives can have an influence on the individuals' assessment of life events. Recent studies show a correlation between religiosity and mental health. However, there is limited number of studies on the relationship between religiosity and health behaviors, especially in elderly. The purpose of this research is to evaluate religion's predictive power in health-improving behaviors of the elderly. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 316 community-dwelling elderly with the mean age of 67.9 ± 6.6 years, who were functionally independent without cognitive or mental impairments. Health-promoting lifestyle profile 2 assessment (HPLP2) and Alport questionnaires were used to assess health behaviors and religious orientation, respectively. Data analysis was performed by independent T test and multiple linear regression models with SPSS version 23. An internal religious orientation was found in 71 elderly; this accounts for 22.5% of the study population. Based on the health behavior scoring 154 individuals, 48.8% of the study population obtained a score of higher or equal to 139. These individuals were placed on third quartile and higher. Among the health behavior components, "the health responsibility" was the only component related to religious orientation [internal 25.1 ± 6.6 (P < 0.001, r = 0.78) vs. external 22.6 ± 6.5 (P > 0.05, r = 0.22)]. Based on the multiple linear regression models, no significant relationship was found between total health behavior score and religious orientation. However, a significant relationship existed between the participants' health behaviors and some of their profile. The results indicate that despite good health behaviors in nearly half of the elderlies, no significant relationship was found between health behavior and religious orientation. The results suggest possible impact of other religion-related concepts including private religious behaviors, devotion, spiritual transcendence, religious adaptation, and religious traditions and experiences on the health behaviors. These concepts require further study for better understanding of their impact.

Association of coping strategies with mortality and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients: The Japan Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis patients are exposed to disease- and treatment-related stresses, and use various coping strategies to deal with these stresses. Although some studies have reported the association of coping strategies with mortality or health-related quality of life (QOL) in some populations, the effect of coping strategies on clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients remains unclear. We investigated the association in a longitudinal design among Japanese hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

We examined Japanese hemodialysis patients who participated in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) IV, which was conducted between 2009 and 2012. The exposure variable was stress coping strategy, as assessed using subscales in Coping Strategies Inventory Short Form: problem-focused engagement, problem-focused disengagement, emotion-focused engagement, and emotion-focused disengagement. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazard model for all-cause mortality and mean differences for change in health-related QOL in 1 year were estimated using a regression model.

RESULTS

Among 1,354 patients, only problem-focused engagement was significantly associated with longer survival; other subscales were not associated with all-cause mortality after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In terms of health-related QOL, the subscale of problem-focused engagement was also associated with improvement in physical functioning and mental health among 1,045 patients. Emotion-focused disengagement was associated with deterioration in mental health, but not with change in physical functioning. The other subscales were not associated with change in physical functioning or mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Among hemodialysis patients, "problem-focused engagement" coping strategies were associated with longer survival and also with improvement in physical functioning and mental health. To achieve greater longevity and improve QOL in hemodialysis patients under ongoing stresses, problem-focused engagement should be encouraged.

Controversies Regarding the Psychometric Properties of the Brief COPE: The Case of the Brazilian-Portuguese Version "COPE Breve"

The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) inventory investigates the different ways in which people respond to stressful situations. Knowledge is lacking regarding the coping strategies and styles of people in developing countries, including Brazil. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Brief COPE to Brazilian Portuguese (named COPE Breve) by focusing on dispositional coping. For the cross-cultural adaptation, the original Brief COPE in English (28 items grouped into 14 subscales) was adapted according to a universalistic approach, following these steps: translation, synthesis, back-translation, analysis by an expert panel, and pretest with 30 participants. Then, 237 adults from the community health service responded to the COPE Breve. Psychometric analyses included reliability and exploratory factor analysis. Most of the 14 subscales from the original Brief COPE exhibited problems related to internal consistency. A Velicer's minimum average partial test (MAP) was performed and pointed out 3 factors. Exploratory factor analysis produced a revised 20-item version with a 3-factor solution: religion and positive reframing, distraction and external support. The psychometric properties of the COPE Breve with three factors were appropriate. Limitations of this study as well as suggestions for future studies are presented. The COPE Breve should be used in Brazilian clinics and investigations, but divergences in its psychometrics should be further explored in other contexts.

Spiritual Coping: A Gateway to Enhancing Family Communication During Cancer Treatment

The researchers examined the spiritual coping, family communication, and family functioning of 95 participants in 34 families by an online survey. Multilevel linear regression was used to test whether individuals' and families' higher endorsement of more use of spiritual coping strategies to deal with a member's cancer would be associated with higher scores on family communication and family functioning, and whether better communication would also be associated with higher family functioning scores. Results revealed that spiritual coping was positively associated with family communication, and family communication was positively associated with healthier family functioning. The researchers provide suggestions for further research.

Incorporating Spirituality into Health Sciences Education

Researchers are beginning to collect empiric data about coping mechanisms of health science students. Yet, there is an important aspect of coping with stress that is only partially addressed in health sciences curricula: students' spiritual well-being. In this essay, we describe a course in spirituality and health care that we offered to fourth-year medical students, as well as a small empirical study we conducted to assess students' spiritual needs and practices. We then offer reflections on the broad applicability of this work to students in the health sciences more generally, including suggestions for curriculum interventions that may ensure students' success.

Religiousness, religious coping with illness, and psychological function among Polish elderly patients with osteoarthritis undergoing arthroplasty

To determine the influence of religious coping and religiousness on the psychological functioning of Polish patients before and after arthroplasty, a prospective study was performed. Out of a pool of 102 potential participants, a total of 61 (34 females, 27 males) completed a purposely created survey, Brief-COPE followed by preoperative and postoperative Perceived Stress Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Religious coping was not associated with: (1) perceived stress before or after surgery; (2) preoperative or postoperative anxiety; (3) life satisfaction. A two-factor ANOVA has shown that religious coping controlled by religiousness was related to better psychological functioning. Between- and within-subjects effects were observed for improvement in life satisfaction measured by split-plot ANOVA, which suggests (p < 0.05) that such improvement was greater among subjects of higher religious orientation. We concluded that religious strategies in dealing with stress measured by Brief-COPE were least likely to benefit patients of low-religious orientation. The study demonstrated the importance of core religious beliefs in predicting benefits derived from religiousness in the face of a crisis. This study showed that regardless of its effectiveness, turning to religion is common among Polish patients about to undergo surgery for osteoarthritis of the hip.

The relationship between quality of life and spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs of medical students

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs on the quality of life (QOL) of medical students affiliated with a religious faith and those without affiliation.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, 275 medical students (78 % response rate) in their fourth and fifth year of study completed the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life instrument and the WHOQOL-SRPB module for spirituality, religiousness, and personal beliefs.

RESULTS

For religious students, a larger range of characteristics of existential beliefs were positively related to quality of life. For all students, hope and optimism and meaning of life predicted higher scores on psychological.

CONCLUSIONS

For religious and nonreligious medical students, reduced meaning in life and hope were the strongest indicators of psychological distress. Interventions to improve the mental well-being of medical students may be more effective if aimed at teaching students how to find meaning and purpose in their lives and how to foster an enduring sense of hope and optimism.

Religious affiliation, quality of life and academic performance: New Zealand medical students

The present study investigated the connections between religious affiliation, quality of life (QOL) and measures of academic performance. Participants (n = 275) were recruited from the School of Medicine within a New Zealand university. Religious affiliation was classified according to three subcategories: Christian (n = 104), Eastern religion (n = 34) and non-religious (n = 117). The participants completed the World Health Organisation quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the World Health Organisation Spiritual, Religiousness, and Personal Beliefs questionnaire immediately before their lecture time. The main findings of the study indicated that participants from different religious affiliations expressed different spiritual QOL perceptions. However, these different expressions did not translate into their perceptions related to hours of study and academic achievement. In addition, the QOL measures did not relate to academic achievement estimation but did predict hours of study. Greater hours of study were related to greater physical health but lower psychological health and poorer engagement in developing social relationships. Data from a small focus group (n = 4) revealed that these students believed that having a belief system assisted them when coping with the academic learning environment, although little difference could be found between external religious orientations and internal belief systems.

Discrimination, religious coping, and tobacco use among White, African American, and Mexican American vocational school students

This study examined whether religious coping moderates the impact of racial/ethnic discrimination on current (past 30 day) cigarette and cigar/cigarillo use among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 984 technical/vocational school students (47.1% women; mean age = 25 years). Results indicate that discrimination increased the likelihood of current cigarette use among African American students and current cigar/cigarillo use among white and African American students. Positive religious coping decreased the likelihood of cigarette and cigar/cigarillo smoking for white students only. Negative religious coping increased the likelihood of cigarette use for white students and cigar/cigarillo use for white and African American students. Two 2-way interactions indicate that positive and negative religious coping moderate the discrimination-cigarette smoking relationship for African American and Mexican American students, respectively.