Meaning in Life Moderates the Relationship Between Sacred Loss/Desecration and Health

According to sanctification theory, religious people tend to imbue certain aspects of their lives with spiritual character and significance. Moreover, they take active steps to preserve and protect sacred aspects of their lives that might be threatened. If they are successful, they derive a deep sen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the scientific study of religion
Authors: Krause, Neal M. 1948- (Author) ; Ironson, Gail H. (Author) ; Pargament, Kenneth I. 1950- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell [2018]
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Meaning of life / Holiness / Profanation / Mental health
RelBib Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
CB Christian life; spirituality
Further subjects:B Sacred loss
B physical health status
B meaning in life
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:According to sanctification theory, religious people tend to imbue certain aspects of their lives with spiritual character and significance. Moreover, they take active steps to preserve and protect sacred aspects of their lives that might be threatened. If they are successful, they derive a deep sense of satisfaction and well-being. However, when stressful events arise, some individuals are not able to preserve and protect the facets of their lives that they have come to view as sacred. The resulting sacred loss/desecration can be associated with physical and mental health problems. The purpose of the current study is to see if a sense of meaning in life buffers (i.e., moderates) the relationship between sacred loss/desecration and four measures of health: physical functioning, the number of chronic conditions, symptoms of physical illness, and self-rated health. Data from a recent nationwide survey (N = 2,104-2,107) suggest that the negative relationship between sacred loss/desecration and each health outcome is lower for people who have a stronger sense of meaning in life.
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12522