The effect of Covid‐19 depression on spirituality and psychological well‐being through the perceived environmental restorativeness of a pilgrimage route: Focusing on pilgrims on Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route

Abstract During the COVID‐19 pandemic, policies adopted by various countries to prevent the spread of the disease exacerbated social isolation among people, and their prolonged implementation has had a negative effect on people's mental health, leading to increased anxiety, stress, and depression. Group religious activities were prohibited, so believers continued their faith practices through individual pilgrimages. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between depression caused by COVID‐19 and its impact on spirituality and psychological well‐being, through the perceived restorative environment of the Seoul Catholic Pilgrimage Route. The results confirmed that COVID‐19 depression had a negative effect on perceived environmental restorativeness and psychological well‐being but perceived environmental restorativeness had a positive effect on Spirituality, and Spirituality had a positive effect on psychological well‐being. These results imply that pilgrims who have experienced depression due to the pandemic can improve their spirituality and psychological well‐being through nature‐based pilgrimages.