Attributing Emotional Distress To Supernatural Causes: Associations With Psychological Flexibility And Mental Health Outcomes In The Usa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

School

Psychology

Abstract

Recent research has shown the widespread prevalence of psychological distress. Different aspects of religion can operate both as a resource and a barrier to good mental health. Religious beliefs about the causes of mental and emotional distress may be one such barrier—as such, this research examined whether religious/spiritual (R/S) attributions of emotional distress were associated with psychological distress and whether that relationship might be mediated by psychological flexibility. The study surveyed 620 online participants (Meanage = 42.9; SDage = 16.3) and 676 undergraduate students (Meanage = 21.8; SDage = 6.71) in the USA. Those in the online sample had negative associations between R/S attributions and psychological flexibility, which partly accounted for the association between R/S attributions and psychological distress. R/S attributions were not predictive of psychological flexibility or psychological distress in the undergraduate sample. Believing that emotional distress is a religious punishment or caused by sin may change interpretations of such distress, increasing experiential avoidance of those emotions. The findings have implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of addressing R/S attributions in therapeutic settings. This research also highlights the need for a more detailed understanding of how religious beliefs and psychological flexibility interact in individuals’ responses to uncomfortable emotions and thoughts.

Publication Title

Journal of Religion and Health

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