The Impact of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Coping with Health Challenges Posed by Covid-19
Keywords:
Religiosity, Spirituality, Faith, Pandemic-Covid-19, Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Abstract
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent the undergraduate students of the Department of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, felt the need to come closer to their own religiosity, spirituality, or faith. Materials and methods: Empirical research was conducted by means of an anonymous questionnaire, comprising demographics and items focusing on religiosity, spirituality, and faith. The survey results were processed using “MICROSOFT EXCEL IBM SPSS STATISTICS 24” statistical processing software. Results: To overcome health dilemmas, the wide majority of students did not focus on religious & spiritual practices (70% & 66.7%) while at the same time, their religiosity & spirituality was not enhanced (74% & 78%). However, for the same period, 53% of the students stated that their faith was enhanced. Conclusions: While overall students’ religiosity & spirituality indicators were low, for the same period they stated that their faith in overcoming health distress was strengthened, which triggers new questions and prompts further research in the field of humanities.
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References
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25. Supriatna, E., & Septian, M. (2021). The Influence of Religiosity and Spirituality Towards Students’ Psychological Well-Being During Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal Pendidikan Islam,7(1), 51-64. Doi https://doi.org/ 10.15575/jpi.v7i1.10850
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28. Tsironis, C.N., Sylaiou, S & Stergiou, E. (2022). Risk, faith and religious tourism in Second Modernity: visits to Mount Athos in the COVID-19 era. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 17(5), 516-532, DOI: 10.1080/1743873X.2021.2007252
29. Vali, M., Mirahmadizadeh, A., Maleki, Z., Goudarzi, F., Abedinzade, A., & Ghaem, H. (2020). The Impact of Quarantine, Isolation, and Social Distancing on COVID-19 Prevention: A Systematic Review. Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System, 8(4), 138-150. doi: 10.30476/jhsss.2020.87246.1109
30. W.H.O. (World Health Organization). Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid- 19): situation report – 127. Retrieved 22/04/2021 from: https://apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/handle /10665/332232/nCoVsitrep26May2020-eng.pdf?sequence=
2. Boccia, S., Ricciardi, W., & Ioannidis, JPA. (2020). What Other Countries Can Learn From Italy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Intern Med., 180 (7), 927–928. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed .1447.
3. Boguszewski, R., Makowska, M., Bożewicz, M., & Podkowińska, M. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Religiosity in Poland. Religions.11(12),646. https:// doi.org/10.3390/rel11120646
4. Chirico, F. (2021). Spirituality to cope with COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and future global challenges. Journal of Health and Social Science. 6 (2),151-158 DOI 10.19204/2021/sprt2
5. Christakis, N. (2020). The arrow of Apollo. Kaktos.
6. DeRossett, T., LaVoie, DJ., & Brooks, D. (2021). Religious Coping Amidst a Pandemic: Impact on COVID-19-Related Anxiety. J Relig Health. 60(5), 3161-3176.doi: 10.1007/s10943-021-01385-5.
7. Edara, I. R., Del Castillo, F., Ching, G. S., & Del Castillo, C. D. (2021). Religiosity, Emotions, Resilience, and Wellness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Taiwanese University Students. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(12), 6381. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126381
8. Fawaz, M., & Samaha, A. (2020). E-learning: Depression, anxiety, and stress symptomatology among Lebanese university students during COVID-19 quarantine. Nursing forum, 56(1), 52–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/nuf.12521
9. Fondata, David (2003). Psychology, Religion, Spirituality. Translated (in Greek) by: Beatrice Kantzola – Stampakou. Savvalas
10. GG[Government Gazette]1178/B/06/04/2020. «Imposition of the measure of temporary ban on the performance of all kinds of functions and ceremonies in religious places of worship for the period from 12.4.2020 up to 20.4.2020». Accessed at: http://www.et.gr/index.php/anazitisi-fek
11. GG[Government Gazette]1471/B/16/04/2020. «Extension of the No. D1a/G.P.23093/ 6.4.2020 Joint Ministerial Decree of the Ministers of Education and Religious Affairs and Health (1178/B) up to 28.4.2020». Accessed at: http://www.et.gr/index.php/anazitisi-fek
12. Goudinoudi, M., Karra V., Ekmetzoglou, K., Korobeli, A., & Kouskouni, E. (2020). The effect of religiosity of patients with Coronary Artery Disease on their anxiety and depression in hospital. Hellenic Journal of Nursing Science (HJNS) 13(3), 43-59, https://doi.org/10.24283/hjns.202036
13. Irma, E. (2021). College students’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: An exploratory study. Journal of Psychology in Africa. 31(3), 254-260. DOI: 10.1080/ 14330237.2021.1939055
14. Karekla, S. (2021). Coronavirus pandemic in the Church press. Biblical arguments. In: The biblical view of illness and suffering. (p.163-164). 8th International Scientific Conference. Hellenic Biblical Society.
15. Khanna, R. C., Cicinelli, M. V., Gilbert, S. S., Honavar, S. G., & Murthy, G. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned and future directions. Indian journal of ophthalmology, 68 (5), 703–710. https:// doi.org /10.4103 /ijo.IJO_843_20
16. Khoo, E.J., & Lantos, J.D. (2020). Lessons learned from the COVID‐19 pandemic. Acta Paediatr, 109, 1323-1325. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15307
17. Kowalczyk, O., Roszkowski, K., Montane, X., Pawliszak, W., Tylkowski, B., & Bajek, A. (2020). Religion and Faith Perception in a Pandemic of COVID-19. J Relig Health 59, 2671–2677.https:// doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01088-3.
18. Leal Filho, W., Wall, T., Rayman-Bacchus, L., Mifsud, M., Pritchard, D.J., Lovren V.O., Farinha C., Petrovic, D.S., & Balogum A.L. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 and social isolation on academic staff and students at universities: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 21, 1213. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11040-z
19. Linnavalli, T., & Kalland, M., (2021). Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Social-Emotional Wellbeing of Preschool Children and Their Families. Education Sciences.11(8):435. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11080 435
20. Omer, SB., Malani P, & Del Rio C. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic in the US: A Clinical Update. JAMA, 323 (18), 1767–1768. doi:10.1001 /jama.2020.5788
21. Otanga, H., Tanhan, A., Musılı, P.M., Arslan, G., & Bulus M. (2022). Exploring College Students’ Biopsychosocial Spiritual Wellbeing and Problems during COVID-19 through a Contextual and Comprehensive Framework. Int J Ment Health Addiction 20, 619–638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00687-9
22. Papazoglou, A. S., Moysidis, D. V., Tsagkaris, C., Dorosh, M., Karagiannidis, E., & Mazin, R. (2021). Spiritual health and the COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on Orthodox Christianity devotion practices, rituals, and religious pilgrimages. Journal of Religious Health, 60(5), 3217–3229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01347-x
23. Paul Victor, C. G., & Treschuk, J. V. (2020). Critical Literature Review on the Definition Clarity of the Concept of Faith, Religion, and Spirituality. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 38(1), 107–113.https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010119895368
24. Sher, L. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 113, (10), 707–712. https://doi.org/ 10.1093/ qjmed/hcaa202
25. Supriatna, E., & Septian, M. (2021). The Influence of Religiosity and Spirituality Towards Students’ Psychological Well-Being During Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal Pendidikan Islam,7(1), 51-64. Doi https://doi.org/ 10.15575/jpi.v7i1.10850
26. Tsironis, Ch. (2018). Religion and society in the second modernity. Discourses, dialogues & counterarguments in the work of Ul. Beck. Barmpounakis.
27. Tsironis, C.N. Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism in Society, in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Paradigmatic Focus on ‘St. Paul’s Route’ in the Central Macedonia Region, Greece. (2022). Religions13, 887.https://doi.org/10.3390/ rel13100887
28. Tsironis, C.N., Sylaiou, S & Stergiou, E. (2022). Risk, faith and religious tourism in Second Modernity: visits to Mount Athos in the COVID-19 era. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 17(5), 516-532, DOI: 10.1080/1743873X.2021.2007252
29. Vali, M., Mirahmadizadeh, A., Maleki, Z., Goudarzi, F., Abedinzade, A., & Ghaem, H. (2020). The Impact of Quarantine, Isolation, and Social Distancing on COVID-19 Prevention: A Systematic Review. Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System, 8(4), 138-150. doi: 10.30476/jhsss.2020.87246.1109
30. W.H.O. (World Health Organization). Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid- 19): situation report – 127. Retrieved 22/04/2021 from: https://apps.who.int/iris/ bitstream/handle /10665/332232/nCoVsitrep26May2020-eng.pdf?sequence=
Published
2023-04-29
How to Cite
Anastasiadou, P., Tsironis, C., Cheristanidis, S., Andreadis, D., & Poulopoulos, A. (2023). The Impact of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Coping with Health Challenges Posed by Covid-19. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 19(11), 1. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2023.v19n11p1
Section
ESJ Humanities
Copyright (c) 2023 Penelope Anastasiadou, Christos Tsironis, Stavros Cheristanidis, Dimitrios Andreadis, Athanasios Poulopoulos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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