Pre- and Post-Pandemic Religiosity and Mental Health Outcomes: A Prospective Study.

Relatively few studies have prospectively examined the effects of known protective factors, such as religion, on pandemic-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pre- and post-pandemic trajectories and psychological effects of religious beliefs and religious attendance. Male and female adults ( = 189) reported their beliefs in religious importance () and their religious attendance () both before () and after () the pandemic's onset. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to track and from to and to test their effects on psychological outcomes at T1 and T2. The participants who reported a decrease in religious importance and attendance were greater in number than those who reported an increase, with (36.5% vs. 5.3%) and (34.4% vs. 4.8%). The individuals with decreased were less likely to know someone who had died from COVID-19 (O.R. =0.4, = 0.027). The T1 predicted overall social adjustment ( < 0.05) and lower suicidal ideation ( = 0.05). The was associated with lower suicidal ideation ( < 0.05). The online () was associated with lower depression ( < 0.05) and lower anxiety ( < 0.05). Further research is needed to evaluate the mechanisms driving decreases in religiosity during pandemics. Religious beliefs and online religious attendance were beneficial during the pandemic, which bodes well for the use of telemedicine in therapeutic approaches.