Positive religious coping has frequently been associated with better mental health outcomes when dealing with stressful life events (e.g., natural disasters, domestic abuse, divorce).The COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated infection prevention and control measures (curfew, quarantine, restricted travel, social distancing), represent a society-wide stressor.This study explored positive religious coping among the Muslim and Christian residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the early stages of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants (N = 543) completed an online survey assessing religious coping in response Woks to the pandemic, along with symptom measures of depression, anxiety and history of psychological disorder.Muslims (N = 339) reported Allergy Relief significantly higher levels of positive religious coping compared to their Christian counterparts (N = 204).Across the whole sample, positive religious coping was inversely related to having a history of psychological disorders.Among the Muslim cohort, positive religious coping was inversely related to depressive symptoms and having a history of psychological disorders.Positive religious coping during infectious disease outbreaks may help some individuals reduce their risk of depressive illness.
National pandemic preparedness plans may benefit from including a focus on religion and religious coping.