The Link Between COVID-19, Anxiety, and Religious Beliefs in the United States and the United Kingdom

Abstract Research has shown that stress impacts on people’s religious beliefs. However, several aspects of this effect remain poorly understood, for example regarding the role prior religiosity and stress-induced anxiety. This paper explores these in context recent coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The latter impacted dramatically many well-being; hence it can be considered a highly stressful event. Through online questionnaires administered to UK ( n = 140) USA citizens professing either Christian faith or no religion, examines impact crisis upon common Anxiety about showed an interaction change beliefs t (276) 2.27, p .024): strong believers higher anxiety was associated with increased strengthening r .249), while non-believers scepticism towards − .157). These observations are consistent notion enhances support individual’s existing ideology already embraced before event occurs. study sheds light psychological cultural implications crisis, which represents one most serious health emergencies times.