The Influence of Religious Orientation and Coping on the Psychological Distress of Christian Domestic Violence Victims

Abstract

This study focused on the relationships between religious coping methods, religious orientation, patriarchal religious beliefs, and psychological distress among 157 Christian women domestic violence victims who received counseling or shelter services in the southeast. Causal effects were estimated with ordinary least squares procedures using GEMINI, a FORTRAN program. Findings showed a significant negative effect of intrinsic religious orientation on psychological distress; significant positive effects of intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation on positive religious coping methods; a significant positive effect of extrinsic religious orientation on negative religious coping methods; a significant positive effect of negative religious coping methods on psychological distress; and a significant positive indirect effect of extrinsic religious orientation on distress through negative religious coping. Implications for mental health professionals working with domestic violence victims are discussed.