Abstract
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic came with several challenges for people around the world. In the United States, the numbers rose steadily over the course of the months, with New York soon becoming an epicentre for the disease. The spread of the disease led to several restrictions, including social distancing and forced isolation. Besides, many people lost their jobs. This led to an increase in mental health issues. This was particularly so among minority populations. Consequently, many people sought ways to cope with the changes, including in religion. This study sought to find out the relationship between religiosity and mental health outcomes among Blacks and Hispanics by seeking gaps in previous research.
This thesis assesses a correlation between religiosity and mental health outcomes among Blacks and Hispanics during the pandemic in New York. This is a review of literature of this relation. A comparative cohort assessment was also done to determine how religious coping changed and how much the participants considered substance abuse as a means of coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quantitative secondary analysis applies a descriptive, exploratory, and correlational approach in analyzing the data. A comparative cohort analysis was also carried out to assess how religious coping has changed how much the subjects consider substance abuse as a coping means for the distress of COVID-19. A correlational approach was applied to look at the significant relationships between the identified variables.
An analysis of the variables showed that there is a significant relationship between religiosity and substance abuse as a coping mechanism during stressful situations. Individuals who recorded higher religiosity and involvement in religious activities were less likely to use drugs. They were also likelier to record more success in treatments. Religiosity was also an important factor in determining mental health outcomes with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Higher levels of religiosity are associated with lower levels of depression. However, the relationship was negligible in regards to anxiety. Ethnicity played a insignificant role in mental health outcomes, especially since both demographic groups are minorities in the New York City.
