Aims: Associations between spirituality and depression were examined in parents of children with developmental disabilities using both quantitative and qualitative methodology. Results: Spirituality was positively associated with depression, whereas social support was negatively related; parents with higher spiritual beliefs and lower levels of support had higher depression scores. Themes emerging from interviews were spiritual/religious coping as a way of dealing with difficulty, as a last resort, and as a form of release from their situation. Conclusion: Associations between spirituality and depression in these parents are more complex than previously thought.
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