Closeness and control: Exploring the relationship between prayer and mental health

Benjamin Jeppsen; Patrick Pössel; Stephanie Winkeljohn Black; Annie Bjerg; Don Wooldridge

doi:10.1002/cvj.12012

Closeness and control: Exploring the relationship between prayer and mental health

Benjamin Jeppsen, Patrick Pössel, Stephanie Winkeljohn Black, Annie Bjerg, Don Wooldridge

School of Behavioral Sciences & Education (Harrisburg)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study explored closeness to God and God-mediated control as mediators in the relationship between prayer and mental health. The authors tested 3 models for mediation using structural equation modeling to assess the separate and combined effects in an online sample of 330 praying adults from predominantly Christian backgrounds. Although both mediators were relevant when entered separately, closeness to God proved to be a superior mediator when both variables were entered in 1 model. Counselors should consider prayer behaviors when culturally relevant and encourage meditative and colloquial prayer for clients where increased sources of perceived social support would be beneficial.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	164-185
Number of pages	22
Journal	Counseling and Values
Volume	60
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cvj.12012
State	Published - Oct 1 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Social Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Religious studies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1002/cvj.12012

Cite this

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AB - This study explored closeness to God and God-mediated control as mediators in the relationship between prayer and mental health. The authors tested 3 models for mediation using structural equation modeling to assess the separate and combined effects in an online sample of 330 praying adults from predominantly Christian backgrounds. Although both mediators were relevant when entered separately, closeness to God proved to be a superior mediator when both variables were entered in 1 model. Counselors should consider prayer behaviors when culturally relevant and encourage meditative and colloquial prayer for clients where increased sources of perceived social support would be beneficial.

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Closeness and control: Exploring the relationship between prayer and mental health

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

UN SDGs

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