» Articles » PMID: 12848223

Religiousness and Depression: Evidence for a Main Effect and the Moderating Influence of Stressful Life Events

Overview
Journal Psychol Bull
Specialty Psychology
Date 2003 Jul 10
PMID 12848223
Citations 201
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

The association between religiousness and depressive symptoms was examined with meta-analytic methods across 147 independent investigations (N = 98,975). Across all studies, the correlation between religiousness and depressive symptoms was -.096, indicating that greater religiousness is mildly associated with fewer symptoms. The results were not moderated by gender, age, or ethnicity, but the religiousness-depression association was stronger in studies involving people who were undergoing stress due to recent life events. The results were also moderated by the type of measure of religiousness used in the study, with extrinsic religious orientation and negative religious coping (e.g., avoiding difficulties through religious activities, blaming God for difficulties) associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, the opposite direction of the overall findings.

Citing Articles

Spiritual boredom is associated with over- and underchallenge, lack of value, and reduced motivation.

Goetz T, Fries J, Stempfer L, Kraiger L, Stoll S, Baumgartner L Commun Psychol. 2025; 3(1):35.

PMID: 40044990 PMC: 11882887. DOI: 10.1038/s44271-025-00216-7.


Magnetic resonance imaging signatures of neuroinflammation in major depressive disorder with religious and spiritual problems.

Kaszas A, Kelemen O, Keri S Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):5407.

PMID: 39948408 PMC: 11825903. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-89581-1.


Psychological well-being of rural left-behind women in Northwest China and its associated factors: a regional, population-based study.

Niu F, Wang X Front Public Health. 2025; 12:1395996.

PMID: 39749234 PMC: 11693742. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1395996.


Concepts of Mental Disorders Among Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Theologians.

Kralj Z, Kardum G Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2024; 14(11):2819-2834.

PMID: 39590022 PMC: 11592576. DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14110185.


Are Religiousness and Forgiveness Protective Factors for Adolescents Experiencing Peer Victimization?.

Walters J, Kim-Spoon J J Aggress Maltreat Trauma. 2024; 23(10):1090-1108.

PMID: 39391677 PMC: 11465661. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2014.964438.