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Cited by 340Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyReligion and Society InteractionsMental Health Treatment and Access

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Religion, spirituality and depression in prospective studies: A systematic review

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Braam, Arjan W., Koenig, Harold G.·2019·Journal of Affective Disorders
DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.063
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many empirical studies have shown inverse associations between measures of religiousness and spirituality (R/S) and depression. Although the majority of these studies is cross-sectional, a considerable number of prospective studies have also appeared. METHODS: The current systematic review offers an overview of the major pattern of associations between the measures of R/S and depression / depressive symptoms in 152 prospective studies (until 2017). RESULTS: With on average two R/S measures per study (excluding measures of religious struggle, treated separately), 49% reported at least one significant association between R/S and better course of depression, 41% showed a non-significant association, and 10% indicated an association with more depression or mixed results. The estimated strength of these associations was modest (d = -0.18). Of the studies that included religious struggle, 59% reported a significant association with more depression (d = +0.30). Especially among persons identified with psychiatric symptoms, R/S was significantly more often protective (d = -0.37). In younger samples and in samples of patients with medical illness, R/S was less often protective. Studies with more extensive adjustment for confounding variables showed significantly more often associations with less depression. Geographical differences in the findings were not present. LIMITATIONS: Given the huge heterogeneity of studies (samples size, duration of follow-up), the current synthesis of evidence is only exploratory. CONCLUSION: In about half of studies, R/S predicted a significant but modest decrease in depression over time. Further inquiry into bi-directional associations between religious struggle and (clinical) depression over time seems warranted.

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Metadata

Authors
Braam, A. W., & Koenig, H. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Humanistic Studies (NL)
  • Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Braam, Arjan W.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-10
Volume
257
Pages
428-438
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2019.06.063
OpenAlex
W2956051434
Cited by
340
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 1
FWCI
6.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Humanistic Studies OAI Repository (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
religiosity, spirituality, depression, depressive symptoms, religious struggle, course of depression, protective factors, psychiatric symptoms, disease, confounding adjustment, prospective study
MeSH terms
Depression, Humans, Prospective Studies, Religion, Spirituality

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