Journal of Religion & Health最新文献

{"title":"Integration of Religious Humor into Therapeutic Practices: Perspectives from the Philosophy of Erich Fromm and Seinto Oniisan.","authors":"Carl Jayson D Hernandez","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02773-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02773-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Topics such as religious humor and humor in general have seen a resurgence in philosophical and clinical discourses, yet their latent therapeutic potential warrants a more systematic reconsideration. This philosophical paper advances a proposal to integrate religious humor into therapeutic practices, drawing primarily from the humanistic psychoanalytic framework of Erich Fromm and the philosophical representations in Seinto Oniisan (Saint Young Men). Consequently, the proposal preliminarily formulates a Frommian-inspired religious humor therapy that utilizes Saint Young Men as one of its textual materials, demonstrating the intersections of religion, philosophy, and psychology. With these in mind, the paper proceeds as follows: the first part provides the preliminaries: an introduction to the paper's focus, its methodology, and an overview of the discussions. The second part presents the relevant philosophical concepts of Erich Fromm, which deepen the understanding of humor and his particular view of humanistic religions. The third part begins with a summary of Saint Young Men, then elaborates on its philosophical representation. Afterward, the discussion examines the potential effects of watching the anime when it is effectively integrated into humor therapy, with a specific focus on meaning-making, religious knowledge, and the viewer's mental health. Lastly, the limitations of this study are highlighted, pointing to directions for future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Religious Perceptions About COVID-19 Among Predominantly Young Online Respondents from Selected Latin American Countries.","authors":"Christian R Mejia, Luciana D Garlisi-Torales, Víctor Serna-Alarcón, Jamil Cedillo-Balcázar, Leonel Vega-Perez, Camilo Vega-Useche","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02751-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02751-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to determine the factors associated with religious perceptions about COVID-19 among predominantly young online respondents from selected Latin American countries. We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study using data from a multicountry survey conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. Participants were adults aged 18 years or older recruited through an online, non-probability convenience sampling strategy. Religious perceptions about COVID-19 were assessed with a six-item Likert-type scale exploring beliefs about divine influence on the pandemic, illness, and healing. High religious perception scores were defined as scores in the upper tertile of the summed scale, indicating stronger endorsement of religious interpretations of COVID-19, illness, and healing. This outcome did not directly measure negative attitudes toward medical treatment, treatment refusal, treatment adherence, adherence to preventive measures, or healthcare-seeking behavior. A total of 2317 respondents were analyzed. A conventional response rate could not be calculated because the survey was disseminated through open online academic and student networks, and the numbers of individuals reached and those who declined participation were unavailable. The statement with the highest agreement was \"When I have a health problem, I pray for God's will to be done\" (13% strongly agreed and 24% agreed). In multivariable analysis, a higher prevalence of high religious perception scores was associated with Christian affiliation (aPR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.15-2.62) and Evangelical affiliation (aPR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.31-3.00). A lower prevalence was observed among agnostic respondents, atheist respondents, and respondents from Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Panama. These findings suggest that religious interpretations of illness were endorsed by a substantial proportion of this online convenience sample during the pandemic. The findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating and may inform future research on culturally sensitive communication and care strategies in Latin American settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Professional Anxiety Among Religious Service Providers in Türkiye: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Measurement Scale.","authors":"M Nur Pakdemirli","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02775-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02775-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study presents the development and psychometric validation of a Professional Anxiety Scale for Religious Service Providers (PAS-RSP) designed to measure the anxiety levels of this professional group. The need for a rigorously constructed, field-specific measurement instrument arises from the documented inadequacy of existing general professional anxiety scales in capturing the unique cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of anxiety experienced in religious service contexts. The study addresses this gap by developing and validating a 31-item, seven-factor Likert-type instrument with strong psychometric properties. In Türkiye, a total of 231 religious service providers, comprising imams, muezzins, preachers, and Qur'an course instructors, completed the scale. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 22). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha (α = .948), and construct validity was examined through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), supported by a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of .906 and a statistically significant Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (p < .001). The EFA yielded seven interpretable factors, namely professional social anxiety, professional management anxiety, personal life anxiety, professional success anxiety, religious fictional anxiety, profession's effect on family, and family's impact on profession. Together, these factors accounted for 70.7% of the total variance, substantially exceeding the 50% threshold commonly accepted in the social science literature. All subscales demonstrated acceptable to high internal consistency (α = .656 to .914). Findings indicate that professional anxiety among religious service providers is multidimensional in nature, encompassing professional, personal, familial, and religious dimensions. The scale is a valid, reliable, and contextually sensitive instrument applicable to diverse religious service and faith contexts. These findings carry significant implications for organizational management, personnel development, and the promotion of well-being among religious service workers. However, it should be noted that the scale has substantial methodological limitations. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and test-retest reliability were not conducted for the scale. The absence of CFA means that the factor structure reported in this study remains exploratory and has not yet been independently confirmed. The absence of test-retest reliability assessment limits the extent to which the temporal stability and generalizability of the scale can be established. These limitations should therefore be considered by researchers and practitioners who intend to use or further develop the present scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Spiritual Well-Being in the Relationship Between Frailty and Hopelessness Among Older Adults in Türkiye.","authors":"Rabia Ümüş Öztürk, Sevda Korkut, Gamze Saatçi","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02771-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02771-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spiritual well-being may play a protective role in the relationship between frailty and hopelessness in older adults. This study aims to examine the relationship between frailty and hopelessness among older adults and to assess the role of spiritual well-being in this relationship. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 328 older adults. The study data were collected using an Introductory Characteristics Questionnaire and the Three-Factor Spiritual Well-Being, Beck Hopelessness, and Edmonton Frail scales. Based on the Edmonton Frail Scale classification, 39.3% of the participants were not frail, 24.7% were apparently vulnerable, 20.7% were mildly frail, 11.0% were moderately frail, and 4.3% were severely frail. The spiritual well-being variable acted as a mediator in the relationship between the hopelessness and frailty variables. Frailty was positively and significantly correlated with age, hopelessness, and multimorbidity, whereas it was negatively and significantly correlated with spiritual well-being, transcendence, harmony with nature, and anomie. In addition, transcendence was significantly and negatively associated with frailty after adjusting for age and multimorbidity; however, this association was attenuated and became non-significant after the inclusion of anomie and hopelessness in the final model. These findings suggest that spiritual well-being, particularly transcendence, may play a protective role against frailty in older adults, although its independent contribution diminishes when other dimensions of spiritual well-being and hopelessness are considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148867298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preoperative Prayer and Postoperative Recovery Quality Among Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy in South Korea.","authors":"Min-Yu Kim, Bahn Lee, So Yeon Kim, Hye Jung Shin, Lin Lin, Seongwook Kang, Sun Joon Bai, Na Young Kim","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02770-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02770-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer is a life-threatening condition often accompanied by psychological distress. Prayer is a longstanding religious and spiritual practice offering psychosocial and meaning-oriented support, yet its role as a resource in perioperative recovery remains underexplored. This non-randomized, preference-based study examined the association between preoperative prayer and postoperative recovery in patients with thyroid cancer undergoing thyroidectomy. The prayer group (n = 36) received physician-led preoperative prayer, while the non-prayer group (n = 36) served as controls. Baseline characteristics, intraoperative data, Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) scores, pain scores, and analgesic use through postoperative day (POD) 2 were collected. Bonferroni-adjusted analysis showed a significant reduction in numeric rating scale pain scores from recovery room admission to POD2 in the prayer group (mean difference = -1.19, standard error [SE] = 0.32, p = 0.001). On POD1, only the non-prayer group showed declines in physical comfort (-2.94, SE = 1.28, p = 0.049) and global QoR-40 scores (-7.53, SE = 3.02, p = 0.030). By POD2, significant improvements in physical comfort (+ 2.94, SE = 1.18, p = 0.031) and global scores (+ 8.94, SE = 2.85, p = 0.005) occurred only in the prayer group, whereas physical independence decreased in the non-prayer group (-1.78, SE = 0.48, p = 0.001). Although no significant between-group differences were observed, exploratory within-group analyses suggested favorable changes in pain and QoR-40 scores on POD2 among patients who received prayer. These findings may reflect the psychosocial and cultural context of physician-led prayer and highlight the need for further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148867337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral Health Providers' Worldviews and Their Descriptions of Moral Injury in United States Military and Veteran Settings: Implications for Interdisciplinary Care.","authors":"Mark Christopher Lane","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02768-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02768-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The concept of moral injury (MI) continues to gain research traction in the helping professional fields. Researchers continue to debate different components of MI. Defining, assessing, and treating MI captures much of the psychological literature. Despite this, standardized holistic conceptualization and treatment have yet to be realized. Worldview has been proposed as an important factor influencing how individuals interpret experiences, construct meaning, and respond to the world around them. As such, this qualitative exploratory multiple case study examined whether behavioral health providers' worldview may shape how they describe MI, its associated sequelae, and potential intervention approaches within US Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs settings. This project was guided by case study principles, based on worldview theory, and used the conceptual understanding of MI presented by Jinkerson. A total of eight (N = 8) participants completed all data collection (100% response rate). Data were collected through surveys, journaling, and interviews. The researcher used codebook template analysis to analyze the data. Findings suggested possible differences in how participants described MI, its associated consequences, and treatment approaches across metaphysical worldview orientations. A discussion of the findings and their implications, as well as advice for future research, concludes this report.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148851626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forgiveness Dynamics in Recovery: The Interplay of Offender Type, Social Desirability, and Psychological Well-Being Among Men in Recovery from Addiction in Israel.","authors":"Yitzhak Ben-Yair, Yeela Tomsis, Robert Enright","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02767-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02767-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forgiveness is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic resource in addiction recovery, yet its dynamics within family contexts remain complex. This cross-sectional study examined forgiveness among 79 men in recovery in a therapeutic community in Israel, comparing those who identified a family member versus a non-family member as the offender, and exploring associations with social desirability and psychological well-being. The response rate was 97.5%. Participants offended by family member reported significantly higher overall, affective, and behavioral forgiveness, as well as higher social desirability, than those offended by non-family members. However, the groups did not differ in anger, anxiety, depression, hope, empathy, or self-esteem. Across the entire sample, higher forgiveness, regardless of offender type, was associated with lower anger and anxiety and with higher self-esteem and empathy. These findings suggest that forgiveness is broadly associated with adaptive functioning in recovery. At the same time, elevated forgiveness toward family members, unaccompanied by superior psychological well-being, allows for two interpretations: it may reflect culturally shaped \"pseudo-forgiveness\" driven by normative pressure, or it may represent an authentic value-based commitment within a tradition that sanctifies family bonds. Clinically, the results highlight the importance of assessing not only declared forgiveness but also accompanying emotional states when working with individuals in recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148851578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spiritual Care at the Intersection of Mental Health: VA Chaplains' Lived Experiences Supporting US Veterans.","authors":"Martin Shaw, Kelsey B White, Qiping Fan, Sarah F Griffin, Amanda N Stover","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02766-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02766-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chaplains play a vital role within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by providing spiritual care and supporting veterans' mental health needs. The present study explored 11 VA chaplains' lived experiences regarding their support of veterans' mental health. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, it explored their motivations, perceptions of mental health patterns, collaborative practices, and assessments of training adequacy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 11 VA chaplains. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic coding to identify themes reflecting chaplains' lived experiences. Five primary themes emerged: (1) values and purpose underpinning veteran care; (2) veteran mental health patterns; (3) chaplain interventions; (4) collaboration with mental health professionals; and (5) education and training. The study supports the chaplains' unique role at the intersection of spiritual and mental health care within the VA. While chaplains demonstrate increased awareness of veterans' psychological and spiritual needs, gaps persist in the application of interventions. Strengthening collaborative practices and integrating mental health education within formal chaplain curricula and clinical training may enhance chaplains' capacity to address mental health issues among veterans and foster supportive relationships with mental health professionals. Future research would benefit from mixed-methods approaches that could capture more comprehensive insights into the implementation of mental health initiatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148832916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"\"Faith\" as a Framework for Understanding Barriers and Enablers to Social and Behaviour Change Using Child Marriage in Mozambique, Nepal, and the Philippines as a Case Study.","authors":"Kathryn Kraft, Kanykey Bayalieva Jailobaeva, Hazel Barrett, Pascal Niyonkuru, Desmond Lim, Alberto Marin, Eduardo Cossa","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02741-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02741-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines the role of faith in social and behaviour change, using child marriage as a case study across Mozambique, Nepal, and the Philippines. While faith is widely acknowledged as a social force, its role in shaping behaviour remains underexplored in development programming. This research addresses that gap by proposing a multidimensional framework for understanding faith's influence on social norms and behaviour. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys (N = 986), focus group discussions, and key informant interviews conducted between 2020 and 2023. The study identifies five key dimensions through which faith shapes behaviour: spirituality, religious beliefs, religious practices, the authority of religious institutions, and faith communities. Findings reveal that all of these aspects of faith may be deeply embedded in decision-making processes, both reinforcing and challenging norms around child marriage. Faith leaders and religious communities are often influential authorities shaping norms, with religious beliefs and practices reinforcing choices, while personal spirituality acts as an internal motivator for change. This study challenges the common tendency to view faith solely as a tool for promoting externally defined development goals. Instead, it argues for a more nuanced, context-specific approach that acknowledges faith as a dynamic and integral aspect of social change. Faith-sensitive approaches can enhance the effectiveness of social and behaviour change interventions by aligning with deeply held values and beliefs within communities. Future research should explore how these five faith dimensions interact across diverse cultural and religious contexts. A better understanding of these intersections will contribute to more effective development strategies that respect and harness faith's complex role in shaping behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aging, Faith, and Religious Coping: A Phenomenological Study of Older Adults in a Muslim Cultural Context in Turkiye.","authors":"Hilal Seki Öz, Suzan Yıldırım, Melike Yeğin","doi":"10.1007/s10943-026-02764-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02764-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explored how older adults experience aging, religious practices, and religious coping, and how faith is reconstructed in later life within a Muslim cultural context in Turkiye. Employing an interpretative phenomenological qualitative design, data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 20 older adults aged 60 to 75 enrolled in the 60+ Rejuvenation University program (University of the Third Age model) at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Turkiye. Data saturation guided the sample size, and transcripts were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings revealed that religiosity in later life is experienced not as a linear increase, but as a dynamic, multidimensional process shaped by bodily changes, health conditions, time perception, and existential concerns. Four main themes emerged: (1) restructuring religious practices in the context of body and time, (2) transformation of religiosity, (3) religious coping processes, and (4) meaning-making of aging and death through faith. Participants adapted religious practices to physical limitations through compensatory strategies, such as praying seated, make-up prayers, and almsgiving. Aging was accompanied by deeper spiritual reflection, moral/intent-focused religiosity, and preparation for death. Religious coping served as both a supportive shield and a source of emotional tension involving guilt over disrupted rituals. The findings demonstrate that religiosity in later life is a heterogeneous and reconstructive process, offering crucial insights for culturally sensitive geriatric care and active aging policies in Muslim societies.</p>","PeriodicalId":48054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religion & Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}