Religious and Spiritual Coping. An Overview of the Western Studies

Abstract

The article is aimed at getting familiar with the Western researches of spiritual and religious coping. The main categories, conceptual models and results of the empirical studies in the current research field are overviewed. For the Russian psychological theory this direction of research could serve as an example of a methodologically mature field that could enrich the instruments of studies in the field of psychology of religion and psychology of coping behavior. For the psychological practice it serves as an example of scientifically based look upon the connection between spiritual and religious phenomena and their input in the process of overcoming critical situations. Conclusions are made; future research perspectives and the development of the current field in Russia are discussed.

Keywords

• spiritual coping
• religious coping
• spiritual struggle
• psychology of religion
• psychology of experiencing
• coping behavior