Citation :

Sora Pazer, 2025. "Spiritual Practice, Church Support and Psychological Stability: Evidence from Three Protestant Churches in Germany" International Journal of Community Empowerment & Society Administration [IJCESA]  Volume 2, Issue 4: 39-46.

Abstract :

This study examines in the German-Protestant context how spiritual practice and experienced congregational support are related to psychological stability. In a cross-sectional survey (October–November 2024), n = 100 people were interviewed in three municipalities using five-point Likert scales on practice (block A), stability (block B) and support (block C). The mean values were in the middle range, with the highest level at support (M_C = 3.61). Bivariate associations showed mean positive correlations between practice and stability (r = .52, p < .001) as well as between support and stability (r = .48, p < .001) and a stronger correlation between practice and support (r = .61, p < .001). In a multiple regression, practice and support together declared 38% of the variance to be stable (R² = .38); both made incremental contributions (β_Praxis = .34, p < .001; β_Unterstützung = .25, p < .01). A group-based ANOVA by practice level showed a dose-response ratio (F(2.97) = 11.24, p < .001, η² = .19). Results support a social-ecological model of additive resource paths: everyday practice, individually carried out and a resource-rich, trusting community culture independently contribute to psychological stability. In practice, there is a dual strategy of micro-practices of self-regulation and stress-sensitive support spaces; causal mechanisms should be examined longitudinally and multi-level analytically.

References :

[1] Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Legend.

[2] Ano, G. G., & Vasconcelles, E. B. (2005). Religious coping and psychological adjustment to stress: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(4), 461–480.

[3] Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? American Psychologist, 59(1), 20–28.

[4] Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310–357.

[5] Ellison, C. G., & Levin, J. S. (1998). The religion–health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25(6), 700–720.

[6] Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Legend.

[7] George, L.K., Ellison, C.G., & Larson, D.B. (2002). Explaining the relationships between religious involvement and health. Psychological Inquiry, 13(3), 190–200.

[8] Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

[9] Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, Article 278730.

[10] Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71(3), 543–562.

[11] Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238.

[12] Masten, A. S. (2014). Ordinary magic: Resilience in development. Guilford Press.

[13] Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301.

[14] Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. Guilford Press.

[15] Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903.

[16] Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.

[17] Smith, T. B., McCullough, M. E., & Poll, J. (2003). Religiousness and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 614–636.

[18] Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25338.

[19] Thoits, P. A. (2011). Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 52(2), 145–161.

[20] Ungar, M. (2011). The social ecology of resilience: Addressing the contextual and cultural ambiguity of a nascent construct. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35(10), 758–766.

Keywords :

Spiritual Practice; Congregational Support; Resilience; Psychological Stability; Socio-Ecological Model; Protestant Communities; Germany.