Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Rodger Bufford

Second Advisor

Amber Nelson

Third Advisor

Carilyn Elis

Abstract

Throughout the 20th century, over 90% of all individuals living in Ireland identified as Roman Catholic, but recent shifts have altered the country's religious landscape. According to the most recent national census, 70% of individuals still identify as Catholic (Central Statistics Office, 2023). However, they also reported a 187% increase in those claiming “no religion” over the last eleven years—making it now the second largest group (Central Statistics Office, 2023). This mixed-methods study investigated the factors behind these changes, surveying one hundred nine Irish individuals from sixteen counties using six validated measures, and conducting thirteen qualitative interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed with SPSS and Nvivo software, respectively. Results showed factors that contributed to both the decline and maintenance of religiosity. Younger generations attend church less, but religiosity remains stable across ages, supporting the concept of cultural Catholicism, that Catholicism remains a significant part of Irish identity (Inglis, 2007). Non-religious participants reported significantly higher frustration with organized religion, particularly with perceived hypocrisy by the Catholic Church. This frustration was linked to changes in religious beliefs. Additionally, a positive correlation and linear relationship were found between higher levels of religious and spiritual struggle and higher levels of depression and anxiety. Despite the decline in formal religious identification, participants expressed a deeply rooted sense of connection to passed loved ones, nature, and other ritualistic elements of religion, such as prayer. These beliefs transcended religious and non-religious identities. Furthermore, these beliefs may hold roots in Ireland’s ancient cultural history, where connection to dead loved ones and nature have been highly valued for centuries (Conner, 2020).

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