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01-12-2012 | Original Paper

Humility, Lifetime Trauma, and Change in Religious Doubt Among Older Adults

Authors: Neal Krause, R. David Hayward

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2012

Abstract

Compared to research on the positive or beneficial effects of religion on health, far fewer studies have been designed to examine the potentially negative aspects of religion. The purpose of this study is to examine a potentially negative part of leading a religious life—religious doubt. More specifically, the current study was designed to assess the relationships among humility, exposure to lifetime trauma, and change in religious doubt over time. Two hypotheses were developed to explore the relationships among these constructs. The first hypothesis predicts that greater exposure to traumatic events at any point in the life course will be associated with greater doubts about religion over time. The second hypothesis proposes that the potentially deleterious effects of exposure to lifetime trauma will be buffered or offset for individuals who are more humble. Findings from a nationwide, longitudinal survey of older adults provide support for both hypotheses. This appears to be the first time that the relationship among humility, lifetime trauma, and change in religious doubt has been evaluated empirically.

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Title: Humility, Lifetime Trauma, and Change in Religious Doubt Among Older Adults
Authors: Neal Krause
R. David Hayward
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9576-y

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Humility, Lifetime Trauma, and Change in Religious Doubt Among Older Adults

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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