Perceptions of Spiritual Dryness in Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Büssing, Arndt; Kerdar, Sara Hamideh; Akbari, Mohammad Esmaeil; Rassouli, Maryam

doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01360-0

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…In American Orthodox Jews, trust in God and related positive religious coping was related to less stress, while struggles with God and negative religious coping was related to more stress and other negative impacts related to the pandemic (Pirutinsky et al, 2020 ). Among Muslims from Iran, phases of spiritual dryness (related to the perception that God is not responding and not helping) were reported during the pandemic, although most would still regard themselves as religious (Büssing et al, 2021b ). Both the view of God as a helping one, and positive expectations that God will intervene have been expressed particularly in the first phase of the pandemic when hope was prevailing predominantly in religious societies and specific faith groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Faith and Decrease in Trust in a Higher Source During COVID-19 in Germany

2022

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Many people relied on their faith as one resource in order to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Germany, between the eighteen months from June 2020 to November 2021, different participants at different times were assessed during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total sample of this continuous cross-sectional survey consisted of 4,693 participants. Analyses revealed that with the 2nd wave of the infection and its 2nd lockdown, trust in a Higher Source, along with praying and meditation decreased. Also, the sharp increase in corona-related stressors was associated with a decline of wellbeing and a continuing loss of faith. These developments were observed in both Catholics and Protestants, and in both younger and older persons. In addition, the long phases of insecurity and social isolation lacking the significant support usually given by religious communities may have likewise challenged the religious-coping capacities of religious/spiritual people themselves.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Faith and Decrease in Trust in a Higher Source During COVID-19 in Germany

2022

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“…In other words, the tendency to use negative religious coping is associated with reduced levels of resilience resources and therefore is consistent with previous research (Pargament et al, 1990 , 2000 , 2001 ; Fallot and Heckman, 2005 ). To perceive God as a punisher, to experience abandonment by God, and “spiritually desert” experiences closely relate to phases of spiritual dryness (Büssing et al, 2013 , 2021 ). Research demonstrates that feelings of spiritual dryness are associated with perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion (Büssing et al, 2013 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Experiencing spiritual dryness is also linked to poor mental well-being. A study conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic among Iranian Muslims showed that spiritual dryness is moderately related to lower life satisfaction and marginally related to poor well-being (Büssing et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, spiritual dryness can lead to either a loss of faith or spiritual growth (Büssing et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the mediating effects of negative and positive religious coping between resilience and mental well-being

Surżykiewicz

Skalski²,

Niesiobędzka³

et al. 2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Background:The purpose of the study was to examine more thoroughly the relationship between trait resilience and mental well-being. Although research demonstrates that this relationship is partially mediated by stress-related variables, no study has taken into account the mediating role of religious coping. We examined the mediating role of both variants of religious coping, positive and negative, along with specific strategies within the scope of religious coping strategies in a group of practicing Catholics.Method:Participants were 317 people aged 19–60 years (M = 24.34; SD = 6.30). The respondents indicated their gender and age, and then completed the RS-14 (trait resilience), RCOPE (religious coping), and WEMWBS (mental well-being) scales.Results:The results displayed a significant relationship between resilience and mental well-being (r = 0.67; p < 0.001). The relationship between resilience and positive religious coping was negligible (r = 0.09; p = 0.74), contrary to the relationship between resilience and negative coping that was significant but weak (r = −0.29; p < 0.001). Although the relationships between overall negative and positive religious coping with mental well-being were irrelevant, we found significant relationships between some strategies and mental well-being. The mediation analysis has demonstrated that the general negative religious coping and the strategies of demonic reappraisal, passive religious deferral, and spiritual discontent have enhanced the positive relationship between resilience and mental well-being. Contrary to expectation, positive strategies did not mediate the relationship between resilience and mental well-being, except religious practices (c′path totaled β = 0.66; t = 15.74, p < 0.001). The insignificant mediation effect can stem from the fact that the relationship between positive religious coping and stress is noticeable only in the long term. We controlled age and sex as statistically significant covariates so that the mediation effects obtained were devoid of the influence of those critical variables on the models.Conclusion:This is the first study to investigate the role of religious coping as a mediator in the relationship between resilience and mental well-being.

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“…Dieses Erleben von Phasen Geistlicher Trockenheit wird also nicht nur bei Priestern und Ordensleuten gefunden, sondern auch bei evangelischen Christen und bei Adventisten, aber auch bei Muslimen aus dem Iran, die während der COVID-19 -Pandemie mit 27 % ein deutlich häufigeres Erleben von Phasen Geistlicher Trockenheit hatten als Personen mit einem christlichen Hintergrund vor der Pandemie ( Tab. 1 ) 19 . Die SDS-Scores waren bei allein lebenden Personen sowie bei muslimischen Männern signifikant höher als bei muslimischen Frauen und am höchsten bei denjenigen, die sich als divers empfanden.…”

Section: Empirische Grundlagenunclassified

“…Bei Muslimen aus dem Iran, die während der Corona-Pandemie untersucht wurden, war der beste Prädiktor des Erlebens von Geistlicher Trockenheit die Einnahme stimmungsaufhellender Medikamente, gefolgt von Einsamkeitsempfinden bzw. sozialer Isolation, aber auch das Gebet als positiver Prädiktor (vermutlich als eine reaktive religiöse Coping-Strategie, um mit der Belastung umgehen zu können) 19 ( Tab. 2 ).…”

Section: Prädiktoren Des Erlebens Geistlicher Trockenheitunclassified

Das Erleben Geistlicher Trockenheit als Glaubens- und Lebenskrise und ihre Bedeutung für die psychotherapeutische Begleitung

Büssing¹

2022

Nervenheilkunde

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ZUSAMMENFASSUNGManche Lebenskrisen sind so tiefgreifend, dass sie einer professionellen psychotherapeutischen Begleitung bedürfen. Und manche Glaubenskrisen sind so belastend, dass sie einer psychotherapeutischen und geistlichen Begleitung sowie Einordnung bedürfen, um sie von der Depression abgrenzen zu können. In der Tat gibt es eine Schnittmenge zwischen dem Erleben von Phasen „Geistlicher Trockenheit“ als Ausdruck einer spezifischen Form der religiösen Verunsicherung einerseits und depressiver Gestimmtheit, emotionaler Erschöpfung sowie Verlust einer Lebensstimmigkeit andererseits. Das Erleben solcher geistlichen „Wüsten- und Dürrezeiten“ soll ausdrücklich nicht pathologisiert werden. Nicht jede Phase Geistlicher Trockenheit ist eine Depression und nicht jede Depression ist Ausdruck einer „Dunklen Nacht der Seele“ im Sinne eines „Läuterungsprozesses“, wie es der Mystiker des Mittelalters Johannes vom Kreuz beschrieb. In diesem Beitrag soll es um die Einordnung und Nachvollziehbarkeit des Erlebens gehen. Hierfür werden empirische Daten und qualitative Befunde erörtert.

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Perceptions of Spiritual Dryness in Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 15 publications

References 62 publications

Loss of Faith and Decrease in Trust in a Higher Source During COVID-19 in Germany

Loss of Faith and Decrease in Trust in a Higher Source During COVID-19 in Germany

Exploring the mediating effects of negative and positive religious coping between resilience and mental well-being

Das Erleben Geistlicher Trockenheit als Glaubens- und Lebenskrise und ihre Bedeutung für die psychotherapeutische Begleitung

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