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Religion, spirituality and mental health: results from a national study of English households
- Authors:
- KING Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(1), 2013, pp.68-73.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Data collected from interviews with 7403 people who participated in the third National Psychiatric Morbidity Study in England were analysed to examine associations between a spiritual or religious understanding of life and psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses. Of the participants 35% had a religious understanding of life, 19% were spiritual but not religious and 46% were neither religious nor spiritual. Religious people were similar to those who were neither religious nor spiritual with regard to the prevalence of mental disorders, except that the former were less likely to have ever used drugs or be a hazardous drinker. Spiritual people were more likely than those who were neither religious nor spiritual to have ever used or be dependent on drugs, and to have abnormal eating attitudes, generalised anxiety disorder, any phobia or any neurotic disorder. They were also more likely to be taking psychotropic medication. The study concludes that people who have a spiritual understanding of life in the absence of a religious framework are vulnerable to mental disorder. (Edited publisher abstract)
Religion, mental health and ethnicity. EMPIRIC – A national survey of England
- Authors:
- KING Michael, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 15(2), April 2006, pp.153-162.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Higher levels of religious involvement are modestly associated with better health, after taking account of other influences. This study aimed to compare prevalence and characteristics of religious and spiritual views of life in representative samples of all principal ethnic groups in England and to examine associations between these views and common mental disorders (CMD). Face-to-face interviews with 4,281 adults from six ethnic groups living in private households in England were used in the study. Data were collected on common mental disorders, religious and spiritual beliefs, quality of life, social function and support, and psychotic symptoms. The results found there was no difference in prevalence of CMD between people who were religious and those who were not. However, people who held a spiritual life view but without religious practice were more likely to have CMD than people who held a religious life view, after adjustment for relevant confounding variables. Lack of religious belief was associated with a higher prevalence of CMD, but only in people who reported having a spiritual life view.