Religion and rituals as coping strategies during war
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/BPSY.2024.2(20).5Keywords:
coping strategies, religion, rituals, toxic resilience, stress, stress responsAbstract
Background. This article explores religion and rituals as coping strategies during wartime. By analyzing contemporary studies and theoretical models in neuropsychology, it investigates mechanisms for overcoming stress through faith and rituals. The study aims to integrate existing knowledge to form a comprehensive understanding of the role of religion and rituals in alleviating chronic stress.
Methods. This is a classical theoretical study based on an analysis of contemporary literature in neuropsychology, the psychology of coping strategies, and studies on social and religious phenomena under crisis conditions. The primary sources include peer-reviewed scientific publications, monographs, findings from previous empirical research, as well as international and Ukrainian reports on the psychological state of the population during wartime.
Results. The article demonstrates that religion and rituals serve as powerful coping strategies during war. Religion provides a sense of meaning, rituals establish structure and an illusion of control over the situation, and social support (whether from family, friends, volunteer communities, or religious organizations) fosters emotional stability. These adaptive mechanisms help manage chronic stress, reduce anxiety levels, and strengthen mental health overall. However, the lack of comprehensive studies limits a full understanding of the scope and specifics of these strategies within Ukrainian society during the war.
Conclusions. Wartime conditions compel individuals to seek adaptive mechanisms for preserving mental health. Religion, rituals, and social support play a crucial role in combating chronic stress. Nonetheless, there is a need for more extensive studies (potentially experimental ones) on coping strategies to develop effective approaches for supporting Ukrainian citizens under crisis conditions.
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References
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Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1252–1265. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252
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Chapman, G. E. (1983). Ritual and rational action in hospitals. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 8(1), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1983.tb00285.x
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Marou, V., Vardavas, C. I., Aslanoglou, K., Nikitara, K., Plyta, Z., Leonardi-Bee, J., Atkins, K., Condell, O., Lamb, F., & Suk, J. E. (2024). The impact of conflict on infectious disease: A systematic literature review. Conflict and health, 18(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00568-z
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Mommersteeg, P. Heijnen, Cobi, J., Kavelaars, A., & Doornen, L. J. P. van. (2006). Immune and endocrine function in burnout syndrome. Psychosomatic Medicine, 68(6), 879–886. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000239247.47581.0c
Newberg, A., Pourdehnad, M., Alavi, A., & d'Aquili, E. G. (2003). Cerebral blood flow during meditative prayer: Preliminary findings and methodological issues. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 97(2), 625–630. https://doi.org/10.2466/ pms.2003.97.2.625
Oudi, D., Vagharseyyedin, S. A., Nakhaei, M., Esmaeili, A., & Mohtasham, S. (2023). Experiences of wives of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: A qualitative study. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 33(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v33i2.19
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Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), 710–724. https://doi.org/10.2307/1388152
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Ridgeway, C. L., & Markus, H. R. (2022). The significance of status: What it is and how it shapes inequality. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation. Journal of the Social Sciences, 8(6), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.7758/rsf.2022.8.6.01
Sapolsky, R. M. (2017). Behave: The biology of humans at our best and worst. Bodley Head Adults.
Sarnyai, Z. (1998). Neurobiology of stress and cocaine addiction: Studies on corticotropin-releasing factor in rats, monkeys, and humans. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 851(1), 371–387. https://doi.org/10.1111/ j.1749-6632.1998.tb09011.x
Schjoedt, U., Stødkilde-Jørgensen, H., Geertz, A. W., & Roepstorff, A. (2009). Highly religious participants recruit areas of social cognition in personal prayer. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 4(2), 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsn050
Shai, O. (2022). Does armed conflict increase individuals' religiosity as a means for coping with the adverse psychological effects of wars? Social Science & Medicine, 296, Article 114769. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.socscimed.2022.114769
Shin, L. M., Wright, C. I., Cannistraro, P. A., Wedig, M. M., McMullin, K., Martis, B., Macklin, M. L., Lasko, N. B., Cavanagh, S. R., Krangel, T. S., Orr, S. P., Pitman, R. K., Whalen, P. J., & Rauch, S. L. (2005). A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex responses to overtly presented fearful faces in posttraumatic stress disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(3), 273–281. https://doi.org/10.1001/ archpsyc.62.3.273
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Van der Kolk, B. A. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.
