Initial development of a measure of religious coping among Hindus

TLDR

The study developed and validated a comprehensive measure of religious coping strategies used by Hindus in the United States. The scale was constructed from qualitative interviews with 15 Hindus and existing coping measures, then pilot tested with 42 participants and administered to 164 Hindus nationwide alongside mental health assessments. Results showed religious coping is salient among Hindus, linked to better mental health, and identified three distinct factors—God‑focused, spirituality‑focused, and religious guilt/anger/passivity—supporting the scale’s reliability and validity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Comm Psychol 31:607–628.

Abstract

Abstract We developed and validated a measure that would comprehensively capture religious coping strategies used by Hindus in the United States (U.S.). Based on qualitative interviews with Hindus (N = 15) and existing religious coping measures, a Hindu religious coping scale was constructed. After a pilot test of this scale among Hindus in the Midwest (N = 42), a sample of Hindus across the U.S. (N = 164) completed the Hindu religious coping scale along with measures of mental health. Results indicated that religious coping was a salient construct for Hindus and related to better mental health. Empirical data revealed specific forms of religious coping that are characteristic of Hindu theology. Further, results of the factor analyses of the Hindu religious coping scale yielded three factors, “God‐focused” religious coping, “Spirituality‐focused” religious coping, and “Religious guilt, anger, and passivity.” Findings provided support for the reliability and validity of the Hindu religious coping scale. Implications for theory and practice were discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 31: 607–628, 2003.