Religious Coping

Prior to being diagnosed with depression, behaviors such as feeling hopeless, behaving suicidal, sleeping problems, change of appetite, inability to experience pleasure, or substance abuse are observed. Having cancer, heart disease, HIV, or other illnesses may accompany depression (McCoy, n.d.). A mental health professional would recognize these and identify the severity of the depression being experienced by a person (McCoy, n.d.).

To reduce the symptoms of depression, individuals who have the urge to help their own selves practice regular exercising, sleeping regularly, and maintaining a healthy diet. They also share their concerns with family and friends to gain support (Parekh, 2015). Similarly, Rayski (2008) explained that physical health

Variables that were related to this religious coping were black race, older age, being retired, religious affiliation, high level of social support, infrequent alcohol use, a prior history of psychiatric problems, and higher cognitive functioning (Koenig et al., 1992). Findings suggest that religious coping is a common behaviour that reduces depression symptoms in the said focus group. However, results from studies such as that by Miller and colleagues found out that there is no connection or negative relationship in religion or spirituality and depression and this may be “falsely taken as proof of concept of interventions” (Miller et. al., 2012). In addition, high self-report rating to how much important religion or spirituality is may have a protective effect against recurrence of depression in their middle age (Miller et. al.,

This explains that problem-solving coping is more effective when individuals perceive that a situation is under their control. For example, taking an exam. The study of Folkman and Lazarus (1985) on college examination presented that students are more in control when they are studying compared wishful thinking and asking for social support. In this case, waiting for results is not a function of problem-focused strategy. Pourmohamadreza-Tajrishi, Azadfallah, Hemmati Garakani and Bakhshi (2015) studied the relationship of the application of problem-focused strategies and health of mothers with Down Syndrome children. Their results implied that mothers with problem-focused strategy training are able to adapt to stressful situations and reduce phobia of having a special child, depression, psychosis symptoms, somatic complaints, incompetency and inferiority feelings, obsession-compulsion, and