Religiousness and mental health: a review

Alexander Moreira‐Almeida · Francisco Lotufo Neto · Harold George Koenig

835 citations0/0 files storedBrazilian Journal of Psychiatry

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Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Religion and Society Interactions Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between religiosity and mental health has been a perennial source of controversy. This paper reviews the scientific evidence available for the relationship between religion and mental health. METHOD: The authors present the main studies and conclusions of a larger systematic review of 850 studies on the religion-mental health relationship published during the 20th Century identified through several databases. The present paper also includes an update on the papers published since 2000, including researches performed in Brazil and a brief historical and methodological background. DISCUSSION: The majority of well-conducted studies found that higher levels of religious involvement are positively associated with indicators of psychological well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, and higher morale) and with less depression, suicidal thoughts and behavior, drug/alcohol use/abuse. Usually the positive impact of religious involvement on mental health is more robust among people under stressful circumstances (the elderly, and those with disability and medical illness). Theoretical pathways of the religiousness-mental health connection and clinical implications of these findings are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that religious involvement is usually associated with better mental health. We need to improve our understanding of the mediating factors of this association and its use in clinical practice.

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References

1953The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud 2003Spirituality, religion, and health: An emerging research field.2003Religiousness and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events.1985Intrinsic and extrinsic religiousness: Review and meta-analysis.2004Religious Coping Methods as Predictors of Psychological, Physical and Spiritual Outcomes among Medically Ill Elderly Patients: A Two-year Longitudinal Study 1988Religion and the Problem-Solving Process: Three Styles of Coping 2002TARGET ARTICLE: Explaining the Relationships Between Religious Involvement and Health 1999A case for including spirituality in quality of life measurement in oncology

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