Value systems and religiosity as predictors of non-religious and religious coping with stress in early adulthood

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate whether values and religiosity could be good predictors of non-religious and religious coping styles in early adulthood. Although previous research suggests that values and religiosity might be related to coping styles, the nature of this relationship remains unexplored. Material and method. The study included 209 participants (111 women and 98 men) randomly recruited in southern Poland. Their ages ranged from 20 to 40 years, with a mean age of 28.4 years (SD = 6.44). All participants were asked to fill in four questionnaires: Scheler Values Scale, Centrality of Religiosity Scale, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and Brief RCOPE Scale. Results. Aesthetic, truth and moral values were positively associated with task-oriented coping, while hedonic and vital values were positively linked to emotion-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping styles. As regards religious coping styles, vital, aesthetic, truth and moral values were positively associated with positive coping. Negative coping was positively related to hedonic values, but negatively related to sacred values. The centrality of religiosity dimensions was positively related to emotion-oriented coping, avoidance-oriented coping, social diversion and positive religious coping. Discussion. Values and religiosity appeared to be predictors of participants' coping styles. The interpretations made on the basis of an individual's religious beliefs and values they hold important help them to better understand the situation and find means of overcoming its negative consequences. Conclusions. Values and religiousness serve as a meaning system that enables individuals to interpret difficult events and effectively cope with distress.