Self-chosen involvement in new religious movements (NRMs): well-being and mental health from a longitudinal perspective

Abstract

In spite of a cult debate that has lasted for some decades now, the controversy about the harmfulness of new religious movements (NRMs) continues. A core question remains whether current or past involvement with an NRM has an adverse effect on psychosocial adjustment. In this study, this question is investigated from a longitudinal perspective. First, an overview on previous research is given. Then findings from an empirical study on individuals who get involved with NRMs in Germany are reported. Life satisfaction, depression and anxiety are investigated over the course of three years for two groups: (a) ''stayers'': individuals who remained in the chosen NRM (n ¼ 51) and (b) ''leavers'': persons who left a Pentecostal parish during the course of the study (n ¼ 9). The results confirm findings from previous studies which indicate that joining an NRM is often preceded by some kind of (retrospectively reported) crisis and that well-being increases with involvement. Adaptation during involvement was comparable to that of comparison groups from the general population and remained relatively stable over time. Among several aspects of involvement related to health and well-being, religious sense of coherence and secure attachment to God were most often and most strongly correlated with the outcome measures. Surprisingly, the hypothesis of a crisis accompanying the exit from the Pentecostal parish was only partially supported. Overall, the study does not confirm the popular notion that membership in an NRM must be harmful. It calls for a sensitive handling of the topic.

“I'm Now Far Healthier and Better Able to Manage the Challenges of Life”: The Mediating Role of New Religious Movement Membership and Exit

“…Supporting the argument that the impacts of NRM membership can best be understood in light of reasons for joining and pre-involvement vulnerabilities (Buxant, 2008;Coates, 2010Coates, , 2011Levine, 1984;Namini & Murken, 2009;Rochford, Purvis, & Eastman, 1989;Rothbaum, 1988), the findings suggest that involvement can be understood as compensating for, or even resolving, previous vulnerabilities for most participants.…”

“…Rather than being a lifelong pathology, the psychological symptoms are viewed as primarily related to leaving a social group and subsequent problems readjusting to society. These studies have found that in addition to the grief and distress related to the loss of a social bond, former members report positive impacts including improved critical thinking, coping skills, wisdom, insight, and empathy (Buxant, 2008;Coates, 2009Coates, , 2010Goldman, 1995;Healy, 2010Healy, , 2011Namini & Murken, 2009;Wright, 1987). In contrast to the experiences presented in much of the popular literature on cults, qualitative studies with former members suggest that even though the experience of exit is negative and destabilizing for most, former members find the strength to reconstruct their lives, and feel they have become wiser as the result of the experience.…”

“…With a few exceptions (Buxant, 2008;Coates, 2011;Namini & Murken, 2009) few studies have evaluated the challenges reported by former members following exit in light of their wider life stories. In an attempt to rectify this omission, the current study builds on previous qualitative studies by examining the relationship between the reasons for joining or pre-involvement factors, and the perceived positive or negative impacts of involvement.…”

The Effect of New Religious Movement Affiliation and Disaffiliation on Reflexivity and Sense of Self

“…While the impact of new religious movement (NRM) membership remains a complicated and controversial area of study, studies increasingly suggest that NRM participation can be an experience that facilitates significant growth and development (Buxant ; Coates , ; Goldman ; Healy , ; Namini and Murken ; Wright ). A number of studies have found that membership in and exit from an NRM helped many former members to resolve or ameliorate previous vulnerabilities and initiated a transition toward an increased sense of autonomy and an increased capacity to negotiate the ambiguity and uncertainty of mainstream social life (Boeri and Pressley ; Coates ; Jacobs ; Wright ).…”

Apego a Deus: revisão integrativa de literatura empírica

“…Três publicações(NAMINI;MURKEN, 2009;DITOMMASO, 2015; KENT; HERDENSON, 2017) pesquisaram a vida em comunidades religiosas, em conexão com o apego a Deus Namini;Murken (2009). realizaram uma pesquisa junto a pessoas que aderiram a movimentos religiosos recentes na Alemanha, incluindo participantes da Federação de Igrejas Pentecostais, da Nova Igreja Apostólica e das Testemunhas de Jeová.…”