Stairway to heaven? (Ir)religious identity moderates the effects of immersion in religious spaces on self-esteem and self-perceived physical health

TY - JOUR

T1 - Stairway to heaven? (Ir)religious identity moderates the effects of immersion in religious spaces on self-esteem and self-perceived physical health

AU - Ysseldyk, Renate

AU - Haslam, S. Alexander

AU - Morton, Thomas A.

PY - 2016/9/1

Y1 - 2016/9/1

N2 - The present research explored how immersion in religious spaces influenced self-perceived psychological and physical health among Christians and Atheists. Study 1 (N = 97) provided preliminary evidence in that self-identified Christians reported higher self-esteem when they focused on their external environment outside a cathedral (versus a castle or shopping district), whereas Atheists reported higher self-esteem when they focused away from this religious environment. Study 2 (N = 124) followed up on these findings by immersing Christian and Atheist participants in virtual environments. Christians reported better physical health when immersed in a cathedral (versus a mosque or museum) compared to Atheists immersed in the cathedral, who reported the greatest health while disengaging from this religious place. These results suggest that immersion in spaces that reflect one's own religious beliefs and identity has positive consequences for health and well-being.

AB - The present research explored how immersion in religious spaces influenced self-perceived psychological and physical health among Christians and Atheists. Study 1 (N = 97) provided preliminary evidence in that self-identified Christians reported higher self-esteem when they focused on their external environment outside a cathedral (versus a castle or shopping district), whereas Atheists reported higher self-esteem when they focused away from this religious environment. Study 2 (N = 124) followed up on these findings by immersing Christian and Atheist participants in virtual environments. Christians reported better physical health when immersed in a cathedral (versus a mosque or museum) compared to Atheists immersed in the cathedral, who reported the greatest health while disengaging from this religious place. These results suggest that immersion in spaces that reflect one's own religious beliefs and identity has positive consequences for health and well-being.

KW - Health

KW - Identity

KW - Place

KW - Religion

KW - Well-being

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84965113776&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.04.016

DO - 10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.04.016

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84965113776

SN - 0272-4944

VL - 47

SP - 14

EP - 21

JO - Journal of Environmental Psychology

JF - Journal of Environmental Psychology

ER -