Date of Award
5-2025
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Psychology BS
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Austen Anderson, Ph.D.
Advisor Department
Psychology
Abstract
Recent research has shown the widespread prevalence of psychological distress. Religion can operate both as a resource as well as a problem or barrier to good mental health. Given that some individuals attribute mental distress to religious or spiritual causes, such as punishment from God or demonic involvement, this research examines how these beliefs influence emotional regulation and mental health outcomes. The study surveyed 1,304 participants, including 686 undergraduate students and 618 online participants, to assess their religious attributions, psychological flexibility, and level of distress. The results indicated that those in the general sample who viewed their mental health struggles as caused by religious or spiritual factors had lower psychological flexibility, which in turn was associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Religious attributions were not predictive of psychological flexibility or psychological distress in the undergraduate sample. These findings suggest that religious beliefs might influence mental health through experiential avoidance, where individuals may avoid distressing emotions linked to their religious attributions. The study also explored the role of internal versus external locus of control in understanding these relationships, showing that religious attributions could reinforce an external locus of control, further complicating emotional regulation. The findings have implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of addressing maladaptive religious attributions in therapeutic settings. This research also highlights the need for a more detailed understanding of how religious beliefs shape mental health, offering insights into therapeutic approaches that can help individuals navigate their religious beliefs in ways that promote psychological well-being.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Chittenden, Abby, "Divine Condemnation and Psychological Flexibility: Viewing Psychological Distress through a Religious Lens" (2025). Honors Theses. 1021.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/1021