Bridging science and spirituality: the intersection of religion and public health in the COVID-19 pandemic

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Psychiatry

Vishi Sachdeva¹  Anil Bachu²  Shahana Ayub³  Nazar Muhammad³  Saeed Ahmed⁴  Gazal Gulati⁵  Maxwell Trudeau⁵  Lakshit Jain⁶  Tajudeen Basiru⁷  Gibson O. Anugwom⁸  Amanda Sullivan⁹ 

[1] Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab, India;Baptist Health – UAMS Psychiatry Residency Education Program, North Little Rock, AR, United States;Department of Psychiatry, Cornerstone Family Healthcare, Newburgh, NY, United States;Department of Psychiatry, Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland, VT, United States;Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States;Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, United States;Quinnipaic University, Hamden, CT, United States;Connecticut Valley Hospital, Middletown, CT, United States;Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, TX, United States;Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States;Quinnipaic University, Hamden, CT, United States;

关键词: COVID-19;    religion;    spirituality;    public health;    pandemic;    misinformation;    vaccine hesitancy and refusal;    conspiracy;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183234

 received in 2023-03-09, accepted in 2023-05-02,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had global impacts on social interactions and religious activities, leading to a complex relationship between religion and public health policies. This article reviews impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious activities and beliefs in relation to the spread of the virus, as well as the potential of religious leaders and faith communities in mitigating the impact of the pandemic through public health measures and community engagement.MethodsA literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, with search terms including “religion,” “COVID-19,” “pandemic,” “coronavirus,” and “spirituality.” We included English articles published between January 2020 and September 2022, focusing on intersection of religion and COVID-19.ResultsWe identified two main themes emerging, with the selected 32 studies divided in 15 studies focused on the relationship between religious practices, beliefs, and the spread of COVID-19, while 17 studies explored the role of religious leaders and faith communities in coping with and mitigating the impact of COVID-19. Religious activities were found to correlate with virus spread, particularly in early days of the pandemic. The relationship between religiosity and adherence to government guidelines was mixed, with some studies suggesting increased religiosity contributed to misconceptions about the virus and resistance to restrictions. Religious beliefs were also associated with vaccine hesitancy, particularly conservative religious beliefs. On the other hand, religious leaders and communities played a crucial role in adapting to COVID-19 measures, maintaining a sense of belonging, fostering emotional resilience, and upholding compliance with public health measures. The importance of collaboration between religious leaders, institutions, and public health officials in addressing the pandemic was emphasized.ConclusionsThis review highlights the essential role of religious leaders, faith-based organizations, and faith communities in promoting education, preparedness, and response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Engaging with religious leaders and communities can improve pandemic control and prevention efforts. Collaboration between religious leaders, governments, and healthcare professionals is necessary to combat vaccine hesitancy and ensure successful COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. The insights from this review can guide future research, policy development, and public health interventions to minimize the impact of the pandemic and improve outcomes for individuals and communities affected.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Ayub, Anugwom, Basiru, Sachdeva, Muhammad, Bachu, Trudeau, Gulati, Sullivan, Ahmed and Jain.