The Mediating Role of the Virtue of Courage in the Relationship Between Religious Orientation and Psychological Resilience: A Quantitative Study on Adults
ESKIYENI, no.61, pp.413-447, 2026 (ESCI, TRDizin)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.37697/eskiyeni.1801844
- Journal Name: ESKIYENI
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM), MLA International Bibliography, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Page Numbers: pp.413-447
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of the virtue of courage in the relationship between religious orientation and psychological resilience. While religious orientation provides a spiritual foundation for the comprehension and management of life's challenges psychological resilience is defined as an individual's capacity for recuperation in the face of stressful or challenging life events. The hypothesis that courage, which enables individuals to take action by defending their values against threatening or risky situations, serves as a bridge between these two variables. The present study aims to make an original contribution to the existing literature on the subject by integrating the fields of psychology of religion and positive psychology through a virtue-based approach. Method: The present study was conducted using a quantitative research method and a relational survey model. The population under scrutiny consists of adults aged 18-50 living in Turkey, and the sample is represented by 549 individuals (189 males, 360 females) living in Ankara and Istanbul. The data were collected between February and September 2022 using a Personal Information Form, the Reconstructed Religious Orientation Scale, the Courage Scale, and the Psychological Resilience Scale. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, regression, and Hayes Process Macro analyses were utilized for data analysis. Findings: The findings of the research indicate the presence of a significant relationship between religious orientation, courage, and psychological resilience. The results of the correlation analysis indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between intrinsic religious orientation and psychological resilience (r=,257, p<,001). This finding suggests that an internalized form of religiosity enhances individuals' psychological resilience by providing meaning, hope, and spiritual strength in the face of life's difficulties. In similar vein, a positive and significant relationship was identified between intrinsic religious orientation and courage (r=,195, p<,001). A positive and significant relationship was also identified between extrinsic religious orientation and psychological resilience (r=,186, p<,001). However, no significant relationship was found at the correlational level between extrinsic religious orientation and courage (r =,065, p>,001). The strongest relationship observed in the study was between courage and psychological resilience (r=,418, p<,001). The results of the regression analyses largely support the correlational findings. The present study sought to investigate the impact of intrinsic religious orientation on psychological resilience. The findings indicated a positive and significant relationship (Ii=,257, p<,001), with intrinsic religious orientation accounting for 6.4% of the variance in psychological resilience. Likewise, intrinsic religious orientation was a significant and positive predictor of courage (Ii=,206, p<,001), indicating that intrinsic religiosity fosters courage by orienting individuals toward value-based behaviors. While the impact of extrinsic religious orientation on psychological resilience was found to be positive and significant, it was observed to be weaker in comparison to intrinsic religious orientation (Ii=,186, p<,001). In contrast to predictions, the predictive effect of extrinsic religious orientation on courage was found to be stronger than that of intrinsic religious orientation (Ii=,237,p<,001). Finally, the variable of courage demonstrated the strongest predictive power for psychological resilience among all variables (Ii=,441, p<,001), accounting for 19.3% of the variance in psychological resilience. The findings of the mediation analysis suggest that courage functions as a partial mediator in the association between intrinsic religious orientation and psychological resilience. This finding suggests that part of the effect of intrinsic religious orientation on psychological resilience operates indirectly through courage. In the extrinsic religious orientation model, the mediating role of courage was not statistically significant; as the lower and upper bounds of the bootstrap confidence interval were not in the same direction, it was determined that courage did not exert an indirect effect for this type of religious orientation. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that courage is a fundamental internal resource that strengthens an individual's psychological resilience. The concept of courage is defined as the ability to act with determination in the face of uncertainty and difficulties by increasing one's capacity to transform beliefs, values, and goals into action. In this respect, courage functions as a conduit that carries the sense of meaning, hope, and trust fostered by religious orientation to a behavioral level. The finding indicate that an individual's strengths are nourished by character strengths that enable the enactment of belief systems. Accordingly, the findings are consistent with contemporary psychological literature on post-traumatic growth, search for meaning, and positive coping approaches. Overall, the present study positions courage as a core virtue that solidifies the impact of religiosity and enhances psychological resilience.