Replicating and extending research on sanctification: A cognitive appraisal with implications for behaviors, attitudes, and self-image.

Basic competency in religious and spiritual issues among mental health professionals includes knowledge about the role of religion/spirituality in people's lives, particularly as it relates to mental health. This research focuses on cognitive appraisals of sanctification by which individuals interpret stimuli to be sacred. We examined the extent to which adults in the U.S. ( = 342) perceived the body, physical activity, and nature as sacred, and how these views related to indicators of mental and physical health. The results indicated that sanctification of the body was associated with greater body appreciation and self-esteem. Sanctification of physical activity was associated with more engagement in physical activity and receiving more enjoyment from physical activity. Finally, sanctification of nature was associated with experiencing greater connectedness to nature and pursuing more nature exposure. We observed a number of moderators among these links. We discuss implications for mental health professionals.