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Religion, coping and health: a complex theme
Journal Title: RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA  
Author/s: Stefano Golasmici 
Year:  2015 Issue: 2 Language: Italian 
Pages:  11 Pg. 409-419 FullText PDF:  175 KB
DOI:  10.3280/RIP2015-002009
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The research on coping in the psychology of religion observes how the belief and the membership of a religious group seem to have a significant role in heart disease, cancer, HIV, permitting the redefinition of the meaning of existence with relative improvement in quality of life. With regard to mental health, the results seem less clear: on one hand, the religion seems to embed itself in the psychopathology, providing its content to symptomatology. On the other hand, the religious dimension might have a function to support and haven; in particular, belonging to some religious groups could prevent different kinds of pathological addiction. It is reasonable to conclude that religion can be understood as a response to the questions of existential meaning. However, like other human and cultural phenomena, religion can potentially be used by psychopathological disorders or be a potentially dangerous factor for mental health.
Keywords: Religiosity, coping, health, disease

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Stefano Golasmici, Religion, coping and health: a complex theme in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA " 2/2015, pp. 409-419, DOI:10.3280/RIP2015-002009

   

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