Religious/spiritual coping, early stressful events, and psychiatric symptoms

a study of mediation among protestants

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47151

Keywords:

Religion, Coping, Psychic Trauma

Abstract

Religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) is associated with better levels of physical and mental health, through the use of coping strategies such as religious/spiritual coping (RSC). The study explored the relationship between RSC and mental health and stressful events among Protestants. Specifically, it was hypothesized that total RSC would serve as a mediator in the association between emotional neglect (one of the most frequent types of stress exposure) and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the participants. The sample was composed of 254 Protestant participants who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (QUESI), the Duke Religiosity Scale (DUREL), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21) and the Brief religious/spiritual coping (SCOPE-14). R/E proved to be a significant predictor of Total RSC (TRSC). The mediation effect was significant for the outcomes of depression, anxiety and stress. TRSC mediated the relationship between emotional neglect and stress. The results point to the importance of working on the spiritual dimension of the subject in psychotherapy.

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Author Biographies

Melyssa Kellyane Cavalcanti Galdino, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.

Doctor of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences affiliated with the Federal University of Paraíba.

Gilvan Santana Santos Junior, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.

He has a degree in Psychology and is affiliated with the Federal University of Paraíba.

Thaís Mykaella Pereira da Silva , Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.

She holds a degree in Psychology and is affiliated with the Federal University of Paraíba.

Maria Carolina da Silva Simplício, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.

Master's degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience affiliated with the Federal University of Paraíba.

Carmem Beatriz Neufeld, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

She holds a doctorate and works institutionally at the University of São Paulo, in Ribeirão Preto - SP.

Sabrina Mazo D’Affonseca, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.

PhD affiliated with the Federal University of São Carlos, in São Carlos - SP, Brazil.

Bruno Luiz Avelino Cardoso, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Doctor with institutional affiliation at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil.

Maycoln L. M. Teodoro, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Doctor affiliated with the Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte - MG, Brazil.

Margarida Gaspar de Matos, Catholic University of Portugal (UCP), Lisbon, Portugal.

A PhD holder who works institutionally at the University of Lisbon, in Portugal.

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2025-12-19

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Galdino, M. K. C., Junior, G. S. S., da Silva , T. M. P., Simplício, M. C. da S., Neufeld, C. B., D’Affonseca, S. M., … de Matos, M. G. (2025). Religious/spiritual coping, early stressful events, and psychiatric symptoms: a study of mediation among protestants. Psico, 56(1), e47151. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47151

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Vol. 56 No. 1 (2025): Single Volume - Continuous flow

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Copyright (c) 2025 Melyssa Kellyane Cavalcanti Galdino, Gilvan Santana Santos Junior, Thaís Mykaella Pereira da Silva , Maria Carolina da Silva Simplício, Carmem Beatriz Neufeld, Sabrina Mazo D’Affonseca, Bruno Luiz Avelino Cardoso, Maycoln L. M. Teodoro, Margarida Gaspar de Matos

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