Anxiety, depression, and religiosity—a controlled clinical study
Titel:
Anxiety, depression, and religiosity—a controlled clinical study
Auteur:
Pfeifer, Samuel Waelty, Ursula
Verschenen in:
Mental health, religion & culture
Paginering:
Jaargang 2 (1999) nr. 1 pagina's 35-45
Jaar:
1999-05-01
Inhoud:
Studies on religiosity and mental health have yielded mixed results. There are few studies in clinical settings, many of which are limited to an older population. This study had the goal of firstly exploring the interrelation of neuroticism and religiosity in clinically diagnosed patients compared with a group of healthy controls, and secondly, exploring differential aspects of positive or negative perceptions of religion in the individual. Method: Measurements of religiosity and neuroticism were conducted in 44 patients (mean age 34.4 years) with affective, anxiety and personality disorders, and 45 healthy controls. In addition, a battery of questions regarding the interaction of religion and mental health was applied. Results: There was no correlation between neuroticism and religiosity, neither in the patient nor in the control group. However, marked differences were found in causal attributions and religious experience between patients and healthy controls. Anxiety concerning sexuality, super-ego conflicts and childhood fears of God was primarily associated with neuroticism and not with religious commitment. Healthy subjects consented significantly more often to the statement that 'religion can make a person sick' than patients with affective and anxiety disorders, who experienced religion rather as support than as a burden. However, they perceived their illness-related problems as an obstacle to express their faith. Conclusions: The findings support the clinical observation that the primary factor in explaining neurotic functioning in religious patients is not their personal religious commitment but their underlying psychopathology. Patients and healthy controls differ in the way they experience supportive and conflicting aspects of religiosity.
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