Adversity affects people not only psychologically, socially, and physically—but spiritually as well. During stressful times, many individuals face spiritual struggles. These struggles involve inner conflict about spiritual issues, tensions with others, and challenges in relating to God or a person's concept of the divine. And the struggles can be faith-destroying.
Spiritual struggles are common. A 2025 study cited by Pargament et al. (2025, May) indicated 62% of an American sample experienced a spiritual struggle in recent weeks.
More than 100 studies have found strong links between spiritual struggles and psychological difficulties. However, since most research has been cross-sectional, we do not know which cause-effect model best describes the relationship. Pargament and his colleagues considered three models.
The Three models:
1. Do spiritual struggles cause psychological problems (the primary model)?
2. Do psychological problems cause spiritual struggles (the secondary model)?
3. Do spiritual struggles and psychological problems act as both cause and effect (the complex model)?
A new paper by Pargament and his colleagues (2025, May) reviews new longitudinal research that explores these three possibilities. Their findings most strongly support the primary model—that spiritual struggles often lead to psychological problems. There is also some evidence for the secondary and complex models, though more research is needed to draw firm conclusions. See the reference below to read their paper.
Cite this post
Sutton, G. W. (2025, July 2). Spiritual struggles: Exploring cause and effect. Psychology & Christianity. https://dividedchristians.blogspot.com/2025/07/spiritual-struggles-cause-and-effect.html
Post Author
Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals. His website is https://suttong.com
Pargament, K., Exline, J. J., Cowden, R., & Wilt, J. A. (2025, May 6). Are Spiritual Struggles the Cause or Effect of Psychological Problems (or Both)?: Empirical Findings and Their Implications for Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/4dcp3_v1
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