Final answer:
People with religious beliefs often use their faith as a source of comfort and coping during stressful situations, such as the loss of a loved one, finding hope in the belief of an afterlife and support within religious communities. However, religious affiliation tends to change slowly and is one of several factors that influence how a person copes with stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
People with religious beliefs draw on their faith as a source of comfort and coping mechanism during stressful events. Coping strategies grounded in religion may include the belief in an afterlife, which provides hope and lessens the fear of death, and the supportive community found within religious organizations. Furthermore, religious adherence can influence a person's worldview and behavior, such as their stance on environmentalism or their response to significant life changes.
Research by McIntosh, Silver, & Wortman (1993) suggests that individuals coping with the loss of a child may find solace in their religious faith. The support networks and frameworks for understanding and processing grief that religions provide can be especially important in managing the mental and emotional strains of such events.
However, it is also important to consider that religious affiliation shifts slowly over time, often handed down from parents to children. Major life events are sometimes required to alter these deep-seated beliefs and practices. Additionally, while religion can be a significant source of comfort, it is not the sole factor in how individuals respond to stressful events like epidemics or the death of a loved one.