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Open research questions in Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

277 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 6,875 Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations are proposed to enhance mental health support and understanding during times of crisis, particularly through spiritual and religious coping mechanisms. Coping with mental health challenges is a complex and ongoing process. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased global levels of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, denial, fear, and anger (Torales et al., 2020). While some of these challenges have persisted, others have evolved as restrictions have eased. Participants emphasized the need to raise awareness and reduce misconceptions about mental health, noting that stigma continues to affect workplace dynamics and personal relationships. Improving mental health literacy—including understanding mental health disorders, risk factors, and available support—is essential for effective coping.

    The Role of Spirituality in Coping with the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A South African Case Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The study’s limitations include a small, homogeneous sample, which limits the gen- eralizability of the findings. Results primarily reflect South Africans, mainly from health, financial, and educational professions, and cannot be broadly applied to the entire population. Participants’ views on loss, grief, and death were subjective and unique to each individual. This study forms part of a broader master’s study and, due to the word/page limit, the authors were restricted in their selection of quotes.

    The Role of Spirituality in Coping with the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A South African Case Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite its strengths, the study has several methodological limitations that must be ac- knowledged. Firstly, although wave 1 of the GFS includes 22 countries with consider- able geographic and cultural diversity, it does not represent the full spectrum of global cultures. Thus, caution is needed when generalising the findings beyond the examined countries. Secondly, the cross-sectional design of analysing only the first wave of data limits our ability to establish causality. For example, while our random-effects meta- analysis shows a strong association between frequent religious service attendance and 62 D.P. Sullins, Gender and Religion…, op. cit. 63 G. Penny, L.J. Francis, M. Robbins, Why are Women more Religious than Men? Testing the Ex- planatory Power of Personality Theory among Undergraduate Students in Wales, “Mental Health, Reli- gion & Culture” 2015, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 492–502; L.J. Francis, G. Penny, Gender Difference…, op. cit.; D.P. Sullins, Gender and Religion…, op. cit.; K.M. Loewenthal, A. K. MacLeod, M. Cinnirella, Are Women more Religious than Men? Gender Differences in Religious Activity among Different Religious Groups in the UK, “Personality and Individual Differences” 2002, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 133–139. 64 See, e.g., V.L. Bengtson et al., Does Religiousness Increase…, op. cit. 65 H.G. Koenig, S.M. Ford, L.K. George, D.G. Blazer, K.G. Meador, Religion and Anxiety Disorder: An Examination and Comparison of Associations in Young, Middle-Aged, and Elderly Adults, “Journal of Anxiety Disorders” 1993, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 321–342. 66 M. Inbari, K.M. Bumin, Israeli Jewish Attitudes toward Core Religious Beliefs in God, the Elec- tion of Israel, Eschatology, and the Temple Mount—Statistical Analysis, “Religions” 2024, vol. 15, no. 9, https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15091076; Israel’s Religiously Divided Society, Pew Research Center, 2016. 67 The Age Gap in Religion Around the World, Pew Research Center, 2018. 68 Ibidem. 45 high levels of religious reading, this does not clarify whether attendance drives religious reading/listening or vice versa. Future waves of the GFS will be crucial in exploring these dynamics further. Thirdly, our study combined queries about reading and listen- ing to religious literature into a single question, which limits our ability to differentiate between these two modes of engagement. However, by encompassing both reading and listening in our assessment of engagement with religious literature, we may have pro- vided a more accurate estimate of scripture engagement, including those who engage through listening alone. Nevertheless, future research should explore additional cultural modalities through which individuals engage with religious texts, such as visual me- dia including film, visual art, or iconography – areas not covered in our current study. Fourthly, while our question focused on frequency, it omitted important factors such as duration, content, and the purpose of engagement. For instance, individuals may en- gage in religious reading/listening for comfort or alternatively to learn or understand more about religious teachings. Therefore, it is crucial for future research to not only separate these activities but to also investigate their duration and purpose. By doing so, we can gain a clearer understanding of their individual prevalence and patterns, con- tributing to a more comprehensive body of knowledge in this field. Finally, it is also important to acknowledge that some variables included in our analysis – particularly religion and race/ethnicity – carry culturally contingent meanings that may differ sub- stantially across national contexts. For example, racial and ethnic categories in the U.S. are often constructed around historically grounded sociopolitical identities (e.g., Black, Hispanic, Asian), whereas in countries like Argentina or Poland, these categories may be less salient or defined differently. Similarly, religious affiliation may reflect cul- tural heritage more than active belief or practice in some contexts (e.g., in Germany or Sweden), while in others, it signifies strong communal belonging and behavioural ex- pectations (e.g., in Nigeria or Egypt). These differences complicate direct comparisons and may influence the observed associations between demographic characteristics and religious reading/listening. Future studies could benefit from more context-sensitive or harmonised measures to enable more robust cross-cultural comparisons.

    Religious Reading across Borders and Demographics: A Study of 22 Countries · 2026 · DOI

  • While this study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. The cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality, and the relatively small sample size may not fully capture the diversity of experiences among Hindu elderly in Lucknow. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to explore the long-term impact of living arrangements on religiosity and well-being. Such findings drive home the importance of culturally MISHRA, Current Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 08(2) 178-196 (2025) sensitive frameworks that go beyond Western models to capture indigenous expressions of religiosity (Ingersoll-Dayton, 2011; Fang et al., 2016). Hence, expanding the study to include diverse religious and cultural groups would enhance the generalizability of the findings. Finally, qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviews and focus groups, could provide a richer understanding of the lived experiences of elderly individuals and their spiritual journeys.

    Religiosity and Well-Being Among Hindu Elderly: A Comparative Study of Institutional and Home-Based Living in Lucknow · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore cross- cultural dynamics and longitudinal outcomes of Islamic coping mechanisms, particularly in diverse workplace environments. 68 A key limitation in the current body of research is its geographic focus on Muslim-majority contexts, particularly Malaysia,69 which may limit the applicability of findings to Muslims living in diasporic or multicultural settings.

    Stress Management in The Context of Heritage and Islamic Civilization: An Overview of Prayer as a Coping Strategy · 2026 · DOI

  • Drawing on different disciplines steered me to a socio-cultural view where spiritual is a lens through which to understand young children and the contexts in which they live; and to re-examine under-researched ideas especially how children can be enabled to overcome barriers and flourish in a world where a focus on individualism and performativity makes this difficult.

    Reflections on the search for meaning in confusing but fascinating terrain · 2026 · DOI

  • İlknur Metin Akten1 · Özlem Özdemir1 Received: 13 February 2026 / Accepted: 15 May 2026 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer…

    Nursing Studies Conducted on Spirituality in the Field of Oncology: A Bibliometric Study From a Global Perspective · 2026 · DOI

  • Owing to the integrative review approach, quality appraisal did not affect the selection of the studies for inclusion in synthesis. Additionally, systemic index- ing constraint of regional journals and inconsistent use of spirituality-related keywords may have limited the identification of studies from low and middle- income countries (LMICs) including India where concept of neuropalliative care is emerging. The comparatively small sample sizes in the included research limit the generalizability. The strength of the conclusions is further impacted by the variations in the quality and methodology of the included studies. It is imperative that additional studies using standardized measurement instruments and larger, more varied samples be done in future.

    Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Neuropalliative Care: An Integrative Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Several limitations should be acknowledged. First, self-report instruments remain vulnerable to: social desirability bias, • • defensive responding, impression management, • • and limited self-awareness. Second, noble-heartedness is influenced by: • culture, trauma, • • developmental experiences, • • and relational environment. spiritual formation, Third, biblical virtue constructs may vary across theological traditions and interpretive frameworks. Consequently, ongoing refinement, multicultural validation, longitudinal studies, and contextual adaptation are recommended.

    NHI–100: Noble Heart Inventory — A Scripture-Governed Integrative Assessment of Christlike Character, Moral Integrity, Wisdom, Courage, Compassion, and Spiritual Nobility · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies and rigorous research shall be conducted to examine ethical dimensions addressing the spiritual life of palliative care patients using the ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Hence, empirical studies may be undertaken to evaluate such integration in clinical practice settings given the limitations of the AI – driven machine learning model as applied in the context of palliative care. The direction of future AI – based technologies in forecasting life expectancy and adjusting personal care to the spiritual needs and wishes of the patient may be explored considerably, which may uncover promising breakthroughs in the patient's spiritual domain as they reach their final moments of life’s existence. In the context of spiritual care, AI can complement the human-centered approach in addressing the spiritual needs of palliative patients, but it should not replace it. Furthermore, this study serves as a foundational data, particularly those investigating the role of AI in the spirituality of palliative patients. However, the researchers encountered challenges due to the limited availability of studies, both online and in physical libraries, especially in the Philippines. To address this, future researchers are encouraged to expand their literature review by accessing international peer-reviewed studies via credible search engines, databases, and academic repositories. Securing funding from academic institutions to access subscription-based empirical studies could also be beneficial. Additionally, considering the increased reliance on spirituality observed during the pandemic (Safdar et al., 2023), conducting qualitative research on the perspectives of Filipino registered nurses or hospice patients in the Philippines regarding AI's role in spirituality would be valuable. Such research could explore how AI can support spiritual practices and address the spiritual needs of patients in a way that aligns with their faith and cultural background, particularly in the post-pandemic context where digital platforms for spiritual engagement have become more prevalent (Rosales, 2021).

    Role of Artificial Intelligence in Spirituality Among Palliative Care Patients: An Integrative Review · 2026 · DOI

  • The impact of coping on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is well established; however, not much is known about the role of culture and religion in shaping coping styles during the pandemic, specifically among a Muslim minority in the African context.

    The Relationship Between Coping and Wellbeing Among South African Muslims During the COVID-19 Pandemic · 2025 · DOI

  • ObjectiveAlthough religious leaders play an important role in providing informal mental health care to individuals struggling to seek religious and spiritual care, existing studies have not explored the role of psychiatric symptoms and motivating factors in seeking mental health services from religious leaders in religious listening centers and mental hospitals.

    Religion and mental health seeking behaviors in war-torn zones of the Democratic Republic of the Congo · 2025 · DOI

  • The review concludes by stressing the necessity for additional studies into the experiences of nonreligious individuals within 12-step frameworks like AA, aiming to improve recovery practices for a growing nonreligious population.

    Spirituality, religion, and recovery: what about the nonreligious? · 2024 · DOI

  • Although many sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) consider themselves religious or spiritual, the impact of this religiousness or spirituality (RS) on their health is poorly understood.

    Religion/Spirituality, Stress, and Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: The Religious/Spiritual Stress and Resilience Model · 2023 · DOI

  • The contribution made by the authors to the domestic school of psychology in the form of a study that analyzes the existing world experience in studying psychological well-being in the context of religious faith, as well as presents experimental data and their interpretation, can certainly become a prerequisite for further research on this topic due to its enduring practical significance.

    PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF KAZAKHSTANI YOUTH IN THE CONTEXT OF RELIGIOUS FAITH · 2023 · DOI

  • SM people report experiencing unique minority stressors of interpersonal rejection in family and religious settings as a product of religious doctrine that rejects same-sex relationships and attraction; however, the usefulness of religious coping strategies for handling minority stressors for improving the mental health of SM people is still unknown given mixed findings in previous studies.

    Minority Stress & Mental Health for Sexual Minority Adults from Religious Families: the Role of Religious Coping · 2021 · DOI

  • Since research shows intersectionality between life-cycle stage and religious experience, research is warranted on this question: How do emerging adults experience faith? This article provides background on emerging adulthood theory, summarizes research on religious life among emerging adults in the Pacific Northwest, and describes early findings of a Lilly Endowment study on emerging adults’ experience of faith.

    Emerging Adults and Christian Faith: The Faith Experience of Emerging Adults in the Pacific Northwest · 2020 · DOI

  • Regardless of all these programmes and strategies, there is no consensus on what constitutes success in a deradicalisation process (Horgan & Braddock, 2010; Porges, 2010) and this can only be achieved through a full consideration of the assessment of the differences among all programmes, taking into account their objectives, aims, targets, methods, and context (Clutterbuck, 2015).

    PROTOCOL: Psychosocial processes and intervention strategies behind islamist deradicalisation: A scoping review · 2019 · DOI

  • RESULTS: With on average two R/S measures per study (excluding measures of religious struggle, treated separately), 49% reported at least one significant association between R/S and better course of depression, 41% showed a non-significant association, and 10% indicated an association with more depression or mixed results.

    Religion, spirituality and depression in prospective studies: A systematic review · 2019 · DOI

  • Reconciliation of the conflict between religious identity and sexual orientation has been related to a number of psychological challenges (Lease, Horne, & Noffsinger-Frazier, 2005; Schuck & Liddle, 2001), and little is known about the convergence of spiritual identity, distinctly defined as separate from religious identity, and sexual orientation identity.

    In Search of Meaning: A Preliminary Typology of Gay Male Spiritual Identity Development · 2019 · DOI

  • This study focused on filling this gap in the literature by conducting a pilot study comprised of 25 parents’ reports on their experiences of post-traumatic growth post-NICU discharge.

    Parents’ post-traumatic growth and spirituality post-neonatal intensive care unit discharge · 2019 · DOI

  • However, we also identify three major challenges in implementing faith-sensitive programming: religion may be used as a basis for maladaptive coping; religious engagement is considered a threat to impartiality; and practices of engaging with religion are poorly documented, disseminated and developed.

    The case for—and challenges of—faith-sensitive psychosocial programming · 2018 · DOI

  • Research limitations/implications Albeit exploratory by nature, and with a limited number of study subjects, the study opens the way for more in-depth investigations of this rarely addressed MH issue and recommends its application to greater numbers of professionals and other contexts.

    Religiosity and mental health among the immigrants in Brasília · 2017 · DOI

  • However, the empirical investigations of the relationship between religiosity and honesty have produced inconsistent results (see Hood, Hill, & Spilka, 2009, pp.

    Religiosity and Honesty: Still Searching for the Elusive Relationship · 2016

  • Studies of the psychology of religion have included research on religious conversion (Paloutzian, Richardson, & Rambo, 1999), the varieties of religious experience (James, 1902), and qualitative depictions of mystical experiences (Hardy, 1979), but few studies have examined corporate worship.

    Corporate worship and spiritual formation: insights from worship leaders · 2015

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277 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 6,875 Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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