The Covid-19 Pandemic's Impact on Religiosity in Poland

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3256032
AutoresRafał Boguszewski (0000-0002-1831-4265, Warsaw University of Life Sciences), Marta Makowska (0000-0002-0785-6237, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, autor correspondente), Marta Bożewicz (0000-0002-0814-1815, University of Warsaw), Monika Podkowińska (0000-0002-8592-8953, Warsaw University of Life Sciences)
Ano2020
Volume11
Fascículo12
Páginas646
Data de publicação2020-12-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoReligions (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
EditoraMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel11120646
OpenAlexW3110430107
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas59
Referências citadas22

Background: Poland is one of Europe's most religious societies. Methods: The article presents the results of an online survey conducted in April 2020 during the period of the Polish government's strictest restrictions to date in response to the pandemic. A quota sample of 1001 adult Poles was surveyed. Results: Around one-fifth (21.3%) of people declared that they spent more time praying and engaging in other religious practices than previously. As many as 61.3% of people who previously practiced religion several times a week spent more time on these practices, and, more interestingly, religious observance also increased among people who had previously practiced only once every few years (15.9%) and those who had not previously practiced at all (7.4%). People who previously practiced sporadically or not at all, but who began to pray more during the pandemic, are found to be distinguished from others by a greater fear of losing their job. Spending more time on religious observance is shown to be related to, e.g., disregard for some government restrictions, possession of less knowledge about COVID-19, and a greater tendency to believe in conspiracy theories. Conclusions: Overall, religious practices increased during the Polish spring lockdown. Although these increases are unlikely to be long-lasting, changes in religiosity caused by COVID-19 appear to be a real phenomenon. As the pandemic continues, more research on different aspects of this phenomenon is needed

Pandemic · Phenomenon · Political science · Religiosity · Religious belief · Sociology · Media, Religion, Digital Communication · Medicine · Psychology · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology