Perceived effectiveness of religious solutions to personal problems

Abstract

Investigated (N = 151) the perceived effectiveness of religious solutions for personal problems. Two independent variables were manipulated. One was type of problem, with one problem being a life-threatening physical problem and one problem being a psychological/adjustment problem. The other variable was type of solution with three types of religious solutions (church attendance, prayer, involvement with a group emphasizing intense emotional religious experience) and an informational solution (reading to learn more about the problem). Religious solutions were less highly valued than the informational solution; there was no difference in perceived utility among the religious solutions; and religious solutions were seen as more reasonable with a physical, life-threatening problem than with a psychological problem although they were paradoxically seen as less indicative of need for professional help for a psychological problem than for a physical problem.