Effects of religious intermittent dry fasting on religious experience and mindfulness: A longitudinal study among Baha’is.

Abstract

Psychological studies on religious intermittent dry fasting are scarce. However, a growing number of studies on Ramadan fasting are being produced, although most of them are being limited by their nonlongitudinal designs and their focus on secular fasting-induced outcomes. The here-presented longitudinal study is the first that asks whether religious intermittent dry fasting, in the form of Baha'i fasting, heightens religious experience, mindfulness, and other fasting-induced experiences. In addition, it was expected to identify different groups of fasters based on these variables. Finally, the study aims to examine the predicting effects of mindfulness, other fasting-induced experiences, and general religiosity on religious experience. Therefore, questionnaires were administered to N = 135 adult Baha'is at five points in time before, during, and after the yearly fasting period. Results show heightened religious experience and mindfulness as well as a high sense of self-control/-efficacy during the fast period. Moreover, two groups of fasters emerged, one of them resonated more with the religious and psychological value of fasting as they showed a larger increase in religious experience and mindfulness as well as higher fasting-related self-control/-efficacy. A regression analysis showed that fasting-induced mindfulness and self-control/-efficacy predicted a fasting-induced increase in religious experience while controlling for numerous confounding variables. The findings underscore the experience of a more aware and integrated sense of self and its link to heightened religious experience. These results are explored further with a view to considering the possibility that they may be generalizable to other forms of religious and non-religious intermittent (dry) fasting.

Mental and Behavioural Responses to Bahá’í Fasting: Looking behind the Scenes of a Religiously Motivated Intermittent Fast Using a Mixed Methods Approach

“…The outcomes of the clinical and laboratory findings have been reported elsewhere [ 32 , 34 ]. Questionnaire results specifying religious psychology and religious practice have also been published separately [ 33 ]. The institutional review board of Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany) approved the study protocol in January 2018 (ID: EA4/216/17).…”

“…Questionnaires used the validated German translations of the Short Depression and Happiness Scale (SDHS) [ 48 ], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [ 49 ], Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS) [ 50 ], Profile of Mood States (POMS) [ 51 ], WHO-5 [ 52 ], Cohens Stress Scale (CSS) [ 53 ], and a self-efficacy scale (ASKU) [ 54 ]. Additional questionnaires focusing on religious experience and spirituality together with elements of a self-developed questionnaire specific to this religious fast (Bahá’í fasting experience) have been published elsewhere [ 33 ].…”

“…The circadian phase estimated by transcript biomarkers of blood monocytes advanced by 1.1 h (n = 16) during fasting [ 32 ]. An analysis of some of the questionnaires addressing religious experiences in our sample showed an increase in religious experiences and mindfulness as well as a high sense of self-control/-efficacy during fasting [ 33 ].…”

Metabolic Response to Daytime Dry Fasting in Bahá’í Volunteers

“…The sub-study was carried out at the Experimental & Clinical Research Center of Charité -Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, from February to March 2018. Data on the primary and other secondary endpoints were be published elsewhere [8,10].…”

Metabolic Response to Daytime Dry Fasting in Bahá’í Volunteers—Results of a Preliminary Study

“…The sub-study was carried out at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center of Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, from February to March 2018. Data on the primary and other secondary endpoints were published elsewhere [ 8 , 10 ].…”