Religious coping and ethnicity

Recent studies suggest that religious behaviour and beliefs can have a protective influence that moderates the impact of adverse interpersonal life events and social adversity on physical and mental health. An in-depth study of 116 people compared religious coping in six different ethnic groups: Bangladeshi, Caribbean, Indian, Irish, Pakistani and White British. Religious coping was most commonly practiced by Bangladeshi Muslims and African Caribbean Christians. Coping included prayer, listening to religious radio, using amulets, talking to God, having a relationship with God and having trust in God. Cultural or spiritual coping practices were indistinguishable from religious coping among Muslims. There was a greater degree of choice and personal responsibility for change among Christians who showed a less deferential and more conversational quality to their relationship with God. Religious and spiritual coping practices were frequently used, and led to changes in emotional states.

Bhui, Kamaldeep ... [et al] - Ethnicity and religious coping with mental distress Journal of Mental Health April 2008, 17(2), 141-151