Religiosity and anxiety in relation to health-promoting attitudes toward COVID-19

Purpose
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between religiosity and health-related attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including views on sanitary restrictions and vaccination. The study also examined the impact of anxiety levels on these attitudes, as well as preferred coping strategies among religious and non-religious individuals.

Methods
The study was conducted online on a non-representative sample of 700 individuals, of whom 289 provided complete responses. A proprietary questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the Mini-COPE inventory were used. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ² test and Student’s t-test (p < 0.05).

Results
Religiosity was not significantly associated with adherence to preventive measures but was associated with greater skepticism toward restrictions in places of worship and vaccinations. Higher anxiety levels were associated with more frequent compliance with sanitary guidelines, regardless of degree of religiosity. Religious individuals were more likely to use coping strategies based on faith and social support, while non-religious ones more often relied on avoidance and helplessness strategies.

Conclusions
Religiosity may serve a protective role in coping with pandemic-related stress but can also be associated with a lower acceptance of preventive measures. Anxiety emerged as a significant motivator for following recommendations, regardless of religious beliefs. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both emotional and spiritual factors in health communication strategies during epidemiological crises.