Date
4-29-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Jichan Kim
Keywords
Scriptural coping, religious coping, faith-based coping, Scripture engagement, hope, emotional well-being, psychological well-being, Christian professionals, healthcare professionals, mental health professionals, quantitative survey, mediation analysis
Disciplines
Psychology | Religion
Recommended Citation
Amene, Chinedum, "Scriptural Coping and Emotional Wellbeing: Examining the Mediating Role of Hope Among Christian Professionals in the Helping Profession" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8249.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8249
Abstract
This quantitative study examined the relationship between scriptural coping and emotional well-being among Christian medical and mental health professionals, with particular attention to the mediating role of hope. Christian medical and mental health professionals often operate in emotionally demanding environments and are frequently guided by faith-based practices, such as engaging with Scripture, to manage stress and maintain emotional stability. While religious coping has been extensively studied, limited empirical research has examined scriptural coping as a distinct construct within psychological research.
Grounded in Religious Coping Theory, Snyder’s Hope Theory, and principles of cognitive-behavioral theory, this study investigated whether engagement in scriptural coping was associated with emotional well-being and hope. Participants included U.S.-based mental health and medical practitioners aged 21and older who self-identified as Christian and reported meditating on Scripture during emotionally challenging situations. Data was collected using validated self-report measures assessing scriptural coping, hope, and emotional well-being. Data were collected from Christian medical professionals using validated self-report measures, including the Ways of Religious Coping Scale, the Adult Hope Scale, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Regression and mediation analyses were conducted to test direct and indirect relationships among the study variables.
Results indicated a significant positive relationship between scriptural coping and emotional well-being, as well as between scriptural coping and hope. However, hope did not significantly mediate the relationship between scriptural coping and emotional well-being. These findings suggest that while hope is positively associated with both constructs, scriptural coping independently contributes to emotional well-being beyond the indirect effects of hope. The findings contribute to the literature by highlighting scriptural coping as a meaningful and distinct form of positive religious coping among Christian medical and mental health professionals. Implications are discussed for research, clinical practice, and faith-sensitive approaches to supporting emotional well-being in high-stress professional environments.
