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"The Lord is my Shepherd": examining spirituality as a protection against mental health problems in youth exposed to violence in Brazil
- Authors:
- HUCULAK Susan, McLENNAN John D.
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 13(5), July 2010, pp.467-484.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Data collected from 325 young male and female young offenders, aged between 12 and 17 years, from juvenile detention facilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil were analysed to examine the role that intrinsic or institutionally inspired spirituality or religious beliefs have as protective factors against the possible, negative effects of stress on their mental health. Questions about violence exposure and spirituality from two instruments of measure, the ‘social and health assessment’ and the ‘strengths and difficulties questionnaire’ were asked and the answers analysed (correlation, mediation and regression analyses) alongside socioeconomic and demographic data. Some evidence of buffering of the effects exposure to violence can have on mental health problems were observed if spirituality or religious beliefs were evident in participants lives. In addition, these authors claim that “intrinsic spirituality may mediate the relationship between institutional activities and mental well-being outcomes”. They conclude that the data support that spirituality in high-risk youth population is multi-dimensional, suggesting that “a small differential and interactive role” may be played by intrinsic or institutional spirituality in protecting against and preventing some mental health problems.