Religiousness and Mental Health: Systematic Review Study
Abstract
Many people use religious beliefs and practices to cope with stressful life events and derive peace of mind and purpose in life. The goal of this paper was to systematically review the recent psychological literature to assess the role of religion in mental health outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using medical and psychological databases on the relationship between religiosity and mental health. Seventy-four articles in the English and Arabic languages published between January 2000 and March 2012 were chosen. Despite the controversial relationship between religion and psychiatry, psychology, and medical care, there has been an increasing interest in the role which spirituality and religion play in mental health. The findings of past research showed that religion could play an important role in many situations, as religious convictions and rules influence the believer's life and health care. Most of the past literature in this area reported that there is a significant connection between religious beliefs and practices and mental health.
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Being religious is often associated with improved mental health.
“Evidence suggests that being religious is often associated with improved mental health.1–3”
From Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults (2024) · cites this paper as [1]
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- Authors
- AbdAleati, N. S., Mohd Zaharim, N., & Mydin, Y. O.
- Affiliations
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (MY)
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (MY)
- ORCID
- Mydin, Yasmin Othman
- Venue
- Journal of Religion and Health
- Published
- 2014-06-28
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1929-1937
- ISSN
- 0022-4197 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6571
- OpenAlex
- W2005606772
- Cited by
- 158
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2
- Type
- book review
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Religion and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Study and Philosophy of Religion
- Keywords
- religiosity, mental health, spirituality, religious beliefs, religious coping, religion and psychiatry, psychological well-being
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Mental Disorders, Humans, Religion and Psychology
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