Religiosity, Meaning-Making and the Fear of COVID-19 Affecting Well-Being Among Late Adolescents in Poland: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Adolescents have come to be greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing containment measures in recent months. The aim of the present study was to examine the relations among religiosity, meaning-making, fear of COVID-19, and subjective well-being within a moderated mediation model. Three hundred and sixteen late adolescents (173 women and 143 men) in Poland volunteered to take part in the study. The results show that meaning-making mediated relationships between religiosity and life satisfaction, religiosity and positive affect, and religiosity and negative affect. In addition, these mediation effects were moderated by the fear of COVID-19. Specifically, the indirect effects were stronger for adolescents with high fear than for those with low fear, which indicates that fear of COVID-19 serves as a ‘warning’ factor.

Religious Coping and Life Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Polish Catholics. The Mediating Effect of Coronavirus Anxiety

“…As expected, positive religious coping was related to greater life satisfaction and greater satisfaction with social support among Polish Catholics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our observations highlight that certain aspects of religion can have a key impact on adaptation during times of crisis, as suggested by previous research [ 28 , 33 , 36 , 40 , 71 , 104 , 105 ]. It seems that religiousness encompasses a framework for assigning meaning which is related to reduced mental distress and the pursuit of mental well-being [ 28 , 106 , 107 ].…”

“…This perspective of perceiving the issues directs researchers to study the reasons for this maintenance or improvement of mental health and life satisfaction. Research highlights, among other aspects, that religion and spirituality are necessary sources that activate individual coping strategies in order to support individuals in developing life satisfaction [ 39 , 40 ]. Religiousness and the ability for religious coping can be considered as protective factors when individuals struggling with their fears and concerns have an absolute trust in God and when they express patience and gratitude under all circumstances, including those of sorrow and worry [ 32 , 41 , 42 ].…”

The Relationship Between Meaning in Life, Life Satisfaction and Job Satisfaction with Religious Experience in the Life of Polish Nurses

“…Religion in difficult life situations can fulfill many positive functions. According to many researchers, it can give people hope in the face of suffering, guidelines for understanding experience and action, and cognitive-emotional support (Krok et al, 2021 ; Pargament, 1997 ). It seems justified to conduct stationary training for nurses, which would acquire current knowledge in the field of their profession, also taking into account the religious factor, which in turn may have a direct impact on increasing their professional responsibility and interpersonal relations.…”

“…According to the literature and earlier research (Krok et al, 2021 ; Lankau et al, 2015 ; Zwoźniak & Kupcewicz, 2014 ), it is suggested that Polish nurses brought up in a Catholic family, who are believers and practitioners, despite of the pandemic COVID-19, should have a high level of mental health like the presence of the meaning in life and the search for the meaning in life, satisfaction with life and satisfaction with job, as well as the religious experience of God’s presence and God’s absence. According to Popielski ( 2008 ), the realized meaning in life is a factor that motivates human behavior.…”

The Influence of Faith and Religion on Family Interactions and Interest in Health Issues during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Study among Polish Adolescents

“…The authors highlighted the indirect effects of meaning-making and fear of COVID-19 that revealed an interplay of cognitive (i.e., beliefs and goals) and emotional (i.e., fear and anxiety) processes in shaping adolescent well-being. They concluded that “young people who showed both higher levels of insight into themselves and their worldviews as a result of meaning-making and awareness of threats posed by COVID-19 were able to productively use their religious resources to maintain well-being” [ 19 ]. Similarly, it was reported that in Muslims choosing to “trust in God”, the faith can positively impact their levels of psychological resilience [ 20 ].…”