Does compassion mediate the intrinsic religion-health relationship?

BACKGROUND

Religiosity has been related to positive health outcomes. Although this relationship is primarily based on studies of church attendance and health, more recent work has focused on the potential mechanisms that may mediate the religion-health findings. One principle that is taught by all of the world's major religions is compassion.

PURPOSE

It was hypothesized that one pathway through which religiosity may exert its positive influence on health is through encouraging compassionate attitudes and behaviors toward others.

METHODS

Two separate studies were conducted examining the relationships among intrinsic religiosity (IR), compassionate attitudes and behaviors, and measures of psychosocial health. Measures of psychosocial health included depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and social support.

RESULTS

IR was related to positive psychosocial outcomes in both studies, and compassionate attitudes and behaviors mediated these relationships. Compassionate attitudes showed significant relationships with psychosocial outcome measures (depressive symptoms, r = -.46, p < .0001; perceived stress, r = -.45, p < .0001; satisfaction with social support, r = .54, p < .0001; marital adjustment, r = .44) and accounted for most of the mediating effect. Although social support was also related to the variables of interest, its effect was smaller than that of compassionate attitude, and controlling for social support did not significantly add to the mediating effect of compassionate attitude.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found compassionate attitude to be an important factor in the religion-health relationship and related to positive psychosocial outcomes, including reduced depressive symptoms and reduced perceived stress. Future research on religiosity and health may benefit from exploring the concept of a "compassionate personality" (i.e., a way of being in the world where others are treated with love and respect).