From Past Burdens to Finding Peace Through Spirituality
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-10-2026 11:30 AM
End Date
4-10-2026 12:45 PM
Abstract
Regret is an emotion that arises when individuals reflect on past decisions and recognize that different choices could have led to better outcomes (Beike et al., 2009; Kahneman & Tversky, 1982; Roese & Summerville, 2007). Although previous research has explored cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying regret, less attention has been given to how spirituality influences the experience and interpretation of regret. Spiritual beliefs may serve as a framework for meaning-making and forgiveness or, conversely, heighten guilt and self-blame (Pargament et al., 2011; Yamada et al., 2020). The present study aims to examine how positive and negative religious coping styles relate to the intensity of regret experienced after decisions that fail either by action or inaction. Approximately forty undergraduate participants will complete the Brief RCOPE, read scenarios depicting regrettable action or inaction, and rate anticipated regret. This will allow us to examine how positive and negative spiritual coping influence regret using a 7-point scale. It is hypothesized that positive religious coping will be associated with lower levels of regret through self-forgiveness and meaning-making, whereas negative religious coping will be associated with higher regret intensity, particularly for decisions involving moral conflict. It is anticipated that participants with higher levels of religiosity will report stronger regret, consistent with heightened moral sensitivity. However, among those engaging in positive religious coping, this relationship is expected to weaken, reflecting the protective role of forgiveness and acceptance. Conversely, individuals high in negative religious coping (e.g., perceiving punishment from God) are expected to report greater regret intensity, particularly for moral violations stemming from action. These expected findings will extend research on the intersection of emotion and spirituality by clarifying how faith-based coping frameworks influence counterfactual reasoning and self-evaluation. Understanding these dynamics may guide interventions that incorporate spiritual coping to promote emotional resilience, self-compassion, and adaptive growth following regret.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Figen Karadogan
From Past Burdens to Finding Peace Through Spirituality
University Library
Regret is an emotion that arises when individuals reflect on past decisions and recognize that different choices could have led to better outcomes (Beike et al., 2009; Kahneman & Tversky, 1982; Roese & Summerville, 2007). Although previous research has explored cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying regret, less attention has been given to how spirituality influences the experience and interpretation of regret. Spiritual beliefs may serve as a framework for meaning-making and forgiveness or, conversely, heighten guilt and self-blame (Pargament et al., 2011; Yamada et al., 2020). The present study aims to examine how positive and negative religious coping styles relate to the intensity of regret experienced after decisions that fail either by action or inaction. Approximately forty undergraduate participants will complete the Brief RCOPE, read scenarios depicting regrettable action or inaction, and rate anticipated regret. This will allow us to examine how positive and negative spiritual coping influence regret using a 7-point scale. It is hypothesized that positive religious coping will be associated with lower levels of regret through self-forgiveness and meaning-making, whereas negative religious coping will be associated with higher regret intensity, particularly for decisions involving moral conflict. It is anticipated that participants with higher levels of religiosity will report stronger regret, consistent with heightened moral sensitivity. However, among those engaging in positive religious coping, this relationship is expected to weaken, reflecting the protective role of forgiveness and acceptance. Conversely, individuals high in negative religious coping (e.g., perceiving punishment from God) are expected to report greater regret intensity, particularly for moral violations stemming from action. These expected findings will extend research on the intersection of emotion and spirituality by clarifying how faith-based coping frameworks influence counterfactual reasoning and self-evaluation. Understanding these dynamics may guide interventions that incorporate spiritual coping to promote emotional resilience, self-compassion, and adaptive growth following regret.