RESEARCH: Situational and Denominational Differences in Religious Coping

Abstract

This study examined situational and denominational differences in the use of religious coping activities. A sample of 153 members of Catholic (n = 75) and Disciples of Christ (n = 78) churches read hypothetical vignettes representing three types of stressful situations (the death of one's father, being in a sailboat during a storm, a job promotion) and were assessed on the types of religious coping strategies that they would employ in each situation. Both the type of stressful situation and religious denomination significantly influenced participants' ratings of the extent to which they would engage in various religious coping activities. Participants reported that they would use the majority of the coping strategies measured to a significantly greater extent in response to the death of their father as compared to the other two vignettes. Catholics reported that they would engage in significantly more coping activities involving pleading with God and experiencing feelings of discontent than Disciples of Christ members.