Balm for The Soul: Immigrant Religion and Emotional Well‐Being

Abstract

Immigrants can face insurmountable odds in their acculturation to the new society, and subsequently suffer from poor emotional ⁄ mental health. Using immigrant data from the United States, Australia, and Western Europe, this paper tests the relationship between immigrant religious involvement and emotional well-being. Results demonstrate that regular religious participation is associated with better emotional ⁄ mental health outcomes. Conversely, non-religious group involvement (i.e., ethnic associations, leisure groups, work groups) do not have as equally a positive association with emotional well-being. This pattern is consistent across all countries examined in this study, suggesting that religion has a unique relationship with immigrant emotional well-being regardless of national context. Therefore, it is posited that in easing the emotional ⁄ mental adjustment of immigrants, religion is not an artifact of context or of a particular religious group, but a generality of immigrant adaptation. Policy implications for the study's findings are discussed.Yet to him, in his troubled state, Christianity brought also the miracle of redemption. Poor thing that he was, his soul was yet a matter of consequence. For him the whole drama of salvation had been enacted: God had come to earth, had suffered as a man to make for all men a place in a life everlasting. Through that sacrifice had been created a community of all those who had faith, a kind of solidarity that would redress all grievances and right all wrongs, if not now, then in the far more important aftermath to life. (Handlin, 1973(Handlin, [1951 Written more than half a century ago, Handlin crystallizes the importance of religion in easing immigrant adjustment upon resettlement. Religion not only brings meaning to difficulties immigrant's experience, but it also provides a community of faith whereby co-religionists, and often co-ethnics, can support each other through social interaction. As Hirschman (2004) has coined, immigrant religion serves as a place of ''refuge'' for the immigrant in supplying physical protection as well as psychological comfort. Supporting Hirschman's typology, a number of qualitative studies, primarily within the United States, point to the special role religion has in assisting immigrant adjustment (Chen, 2008;Hagan, 2006;Hagan and Ebaugh, 2003;Mooney 2009). Moreover, recent quantitative research has also identified a positive relationship between emotional well-being and religious participation among particular immigrant populations (Ellison, et al., 2009;Harker, 2001).

Factors promoting resilience among Mexican immigrant women in the United States: Applying a positive deviance approach

“…The protective role of spirituality among the immigrant women in this study is consistent with a body of literature on immigrants and other groups (Braxton et al, 2008;Connor, 2012;Koenig, 2012;Lake, 2012;Rosmarin, Wachholtz & Ai, 2011;Smith, Webber & DeFrain, 2013;Temane & Wissing, 2006). Shaw, Joseph and Linley proposed that the beneficial role of spirituality and religion in mental health is generated through strong values and beliefs that enhance meaning of life, increase social support, and promote acceptance of difficulties (Shaw, Joseph & Linley, 2005).…”

Bridges or buffers? Motives behind Immigrants’ Religiosity

“…Such religious beliefs and identities may translate into active participation in religious institutions. Religion therefore serves as "balm for the soul" (Connor 2012), providing comfort and mitigating loneliness (Chiswick 2003;Waite and Lehrer 2003). The basic mechanism implied in this argument is psychological and could lead to a slowdown in the process of assimilation, serve as a 'mobility trap' (Cadge and Ecklund 2006), and religiosity will consequently become a 'barrier' (rather than a 'bridge') in the process of adaptation.…”

“…Obviously, causality could run in the opposite direction: from failure to integrate in the host country to participation in church activities, rather than the proposed causality that goes from church attendance to lower integration. Religious activities can serve as a "balm for the soul" (Connor 2012) for those who failed to integrate into the local society and labor market.…”

God Bless Our Children? The Role of Generation, Discrimination and Religious Context for Migrants in Europe

“…Religion can suppress or buffer the effects of stress on well‐being (Ellison et al, ). Research on the positive effects of religion for migrants, however, has for the most part only dealt with social and material benefits (Hirschman, ; Ebaugh and Chafetz, ) and only recently touched upon psychological benefits (Connor, ).…”