Effects of Religious Intermittent Dry Fasting on Religious Experience and Mindfulness: A Longitudinal Study Among Baha'is

• Published in: Psychology of religion and spirituality 2023-11, Vol.15 (4), p.459-470
• Main Authors: Demmrich, Sarah, Koppold-Liebscher, Daniela, Klatte, Caroline, Steckhan, Nico, Ring, Raphaela Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atheism; Bahaism; Efficacy; Fasting; Female; Food Deprivation; Human; Induced; Intermittent; Longitudinal studies; Male; Mindfulness; Ramadan; Religion; Religiosity; Religious Experiences; Religious Practices; Self concept; Self control; Sense of control
• ISSN: 1941-1022; 1943-1562
• DOI: 10.1037/rel0000423

Psychological studies on religious intermittent dry fasting are scarce. However, a growing number of studies on Ramadan fasting are being produced, although most of them are being limited by their non-longitudinal designs and their focus on secular fasting-induced outcomes. The here-presented longitudinal study is the first that asks whether religious intermittent dry fasting, in the form of Baha'i fasting, heightens religious experience, mindfulness, and other fasting-induced experiences. In addition, it was expected to identify different groups of fasters based on these variables. Finally, the study aims to examine the predicting effects of mindfulness, other fasting-induced experiences, and general religiosity on religious experience. Therefore, questionnaires were administered to N = 135 adult Baha'is at five points in time before, during, and after the yearly fasting period. Results show heightened religious experience and mindfulness as well as a high sense of self-control/-efficacy during the fast period. Moreover, two groups of fasters emerged, one of them resonated more with the religious and psychological value of fasting as they showed a larger increase in religious experience and mindfulness as well as higher fasting-related self-control/-efficacy. A regression analysis showed that fasting-induced mindfulness and self-control/-efficacy predicted a fasting-induced increase in religious experience while controlling for numerous confounding variables. The findings underscore the experience of a more aware and integrated sense of self and its link to heightened religious experience. These results are explored further with a view to considering the possibility that they may be generalizable to other forms of religious and non-religious intermittent (dry) fasting.