2. The Role Of Divine Beliefs In Stress Processes

Abstract

The understanding of health and well-being has benefited from Leonard Pearlin's stress process model, which provides a framework from a sociological perspective. This chapter argues that the social-structural arrangements are pivotal because they influence not only individuals' levels of exposure to stress but also the subsequent effects of stress on measurable mental health outcomes and the resources that are available to manage these outcomes. It uses the stress process model as a framework for delineating the ways in which divine beliefs may influence well-being. The chapter focuses on theory and research related to two core themes: (1) the association between beliefs about God and psychological well-being (direct and indirect effects); and (2) the way in which these beliefs may alter the relationship between stress and psychological well-being (moderating effects). Keywords: divine beliefs; Leonard Pearlin's stress process model; mental health outcomes; psychological well-being; social-structural arrangements