Relationship between Religiousness and Trait Anxiety: Fact or Artifact?

Abstract

Previous research with conservative Christians has examined the relationship between religious orientation and trait anxiety. Typically, such studies have shown that intrinsically oriented persons experience lower trait anxiety than do their extrinsically oriented peers. The present study extends this line of research by investigating a religiously heterogeneous sample and by analyzing the interactive effects of religious orientation and sex. In addition, analyses were conducted using a recently recommended four-fold scoring method, which permits a more refined assessment of religiousness. Contrary to previous research, the findings obtained in the current study do not support the proposed relationship between religiousness and trait anxiety. Sex of subjects did not influence these findings. Interpretation of these results and suggestions for research are offered.

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