Popular science material by Maksym Parashchevin, Doctor of Sociological Sciences: “Does religion help Ukrainians to cope with stress?”

The website of the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine has published a popular science material by Maksym Parashchevin, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, "Does religion help Ukrainians to cope with stress?"

People can withstand stressful situations, overcome stress or adapt to it by various means, one of which is religion. Religion's ability to ease its followers' suffering, relieve tension, preserve peace of mind in difficult situations and compensate for life's problems and misfortunes is confirmed by many examples from real life and is something of an axiom even for scholars (in speaking of the social functions of religion, scholars of religion often single out its compensatory function).

Religion's potential in this respect (at least that of the great world religions) is determined by several components. First, religious teaching offers an explanation of how the world is arranged and of where difficulties and suffering come from. A situation of uncertainty is often a source of stress, when a person does not understand why something is happening as it is and how it will end. Religious teachings offer explanations of this (divine will, human sins) and likewise offer an answer about the future (doing God's will will help and will ensure that problems are resolved, while failing to do it will bring punishment). Second, religious teachings offer hope of an improvement in the situation in this life and a promise of compensation for suffering in another. Third, religious practices themselves (prayer, meditation and so on) can create a positive or neutral mood and thereby help a person overcome psychological tension, irritation and despair. Fourth, religion is usually connected with the functioning of religious communities (groups, churches), and these communities can ease states of stress through simple communication among their members and through the moral support fellow believers provide (sometimes a simple conversation with other people, and their sympathy and support, reduces the feeling of stress); they can also provide direct material support (help with money or other resources, or the labour of fellow believers).

The full material is here