The predictive role of multidimensional experiential avoidance on religious coping in individuals

Experiential avoidance and religious coping are two commonly used defence mechanisms for coping with distressing life events. This research aims to examine the experiential avoidance that individuals exhibit in the face of distressing events and the effects of these behaviours on religious coping behaviours. This study is descriptive cross-sectional study type. The sample of the study consists of 435 individuals over the age of 18 and without cognitive disabilities, determined by G Power. Data were collected using a Socio-demographic Information Form, a Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Scale, and a Religious Coping Scale. Multidimensional experiential avoidance in individuals explains 16.4% of the total variance in religious coping. As a result, it is noteworthy that while both Positive and Negative religious coping behaviours are used to avoidance, distraction/suppression, and distress endurance from distressing life events, only negative religious coping behaviours are preferred in situations of procrastination, suppression or denial distressing life events.