Christianity, gender and self-care : conversations with university students about coping with social isolation during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how religiosity is an effective coping mechanism to alleviate the stress of social isolation. This sociological study uses a Transactional Stress Process Model to investigate how masculinity affects the receptiveness of religious individuals towards practicing s...
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| Format: | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| Language: | English |
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Nanyang Technological University
2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/152259 |
| Summary: | The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how religiosity is an effective coping mechanism to
alleviate the stress of social isolation. This sociological study uses a Transactional Stress Process
Model to investigate how masculinity affects the receptiveness of religious individuals towards
practicing self-care. In-depth interviews regarding experiences during Singapore’s Circuit
Breaker lockdown and Biblical beliefs about masculinity and self-care were conducted amongst a
convenience sample of 10 university-going Christian males. Findings showed that they identified
with examples of expressive masculinity found in Scripture. This shared belief translated into a
receptiveness towards adopting ‘Christianized’ rituals of self-care called ‘rest’. I discuss the
theoretical implications of such a practice in the context of a globalized, neoliberal, and social
media-saturated world. Practical recommendations for the local Christian community hinge upon
whether the uncritical acceptance of self-care may weaken its future leaders’ convictions in laying
down one’s life for Jesus and His church.
Keywords: COVID-19; Stress-Process Model; Christianity;
Religiosity; Masculinity; Self-care |
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