Religion and Mental Health: What Do You Mean When You Say ‘Religion’? What Do You Mean When You Say ‘Mental Health’?

Religion and mental health: a critical reflection in consequence of four reviews (1969-2013)

“…Instead of summarizing studies it is interesting to look in some detail at one of the frequently cited metaanalyses, done by Hackney and Sanders (26)(27). One of the main difficulties and an arena for disagreement is the fact that researchers deploy diverse definitions of scales of religion, spirituality and mental health.…”

Making the Leap

“…Librarians have master' s degrees!" 2 In the world of the comic strip, library assistants are those who "just work" at the library and librarians are the careered professionals, shouldered with the benefit and burden of being part of the broader profession.…”

Religion, spirituality, and mental health.

“…A more modest set of studies has addressed the mental health-spirituality relationship. Reviews generally indicate that religion tends to be slightly positively correlated with mental health (results vary by measurements used), a trend supported by increasingly sophisticated research designs ( Gartner, 1996 ;Hackney, 2010 ;Koenig, 2009 ;Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001 ). Koenig et al for instance, found generally modest, positive correlations between religiousness and well-being in 80% of the reviewed studies, with religion positively correlated with greater hope and optimism, greater purpose and meaning, greater self-esteem, better adaptation to grieving, greater social support, less loneliness, less depression, fewer suicides, less anxiety, less schizophrenia, less drug and alcohol abuse, less delinquency and crime, and greater marital stability.…”