Religious/Spiritual Coping and Secular Existential Coping

Understanding adjustment, coping processes, and various coping strategies is important for preserving and enhancing mental and physical well-being. This chapter reviews and discusses religious/spiritual coping and secular existential coping, their theoretical underpinnings, and their relation to health. Empirical studies conducted in a health-related context were highlighted to demonstrate how these coping strategies are employed in real-life practice. Further, we elaborated on the potential role of culture in individuals’ orientation toward these coping resources. Some possible areas for future research and a few implications for healthcare practitioners, palliative care professionals, and policymakers were outlined.