Nix

Relationships among Negative Religious Coping, Therapeutic Alliance, and Outcomes

Sharon A, Nix

Abstract

For many persons, religious or spiritual beliefs and practices are central to their identity (Pargament, 2007; Pargament, 2011). However, whether religion is seen as a resource to the healing process or a hindrance can significantly impact the effects of therapy. Negative religious coping practices in particular are seen as hindering the progress of therapy and need to be changed if therapy is to achieve its goals. Failure to change negative religious coping may lead to hopelessness, discouragement, and increases in depression and anxiety, and also to distance in their relationship with God (Harrison, Koenig, Eme-Akwari, & Pargament, 2001). The current study tracks the relationships of changes in negative religious coping, the effects of these changes on the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the relationship of these to the quality of the therapeutic alliance. Forming a good alliance should predict decreases in negative religious coping, and both will predict better therapy outcome. From a client sample of N = 1286 that were given Outcome Questionnaires (OQs) to complete, 983 responded as being religious or spiritual. Findings show a significant correlation between change in symptoms, change in daily functioning, change in social functioning, and severity adjusted effect size. Results in this study are consistent with prior studies showing that negative religious coping can, in fact, impact therapy outcomes. Moreover, this study further establishes the link between negative religious coping and the symptoms related to anxiety and depression in clients

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Keywords: anxiety, depression, religious coping, alliance, spirituality, counseling outcomes