Religiosity and Mental Health: A Meta–Analysis of Recent Studies

Hackney, Charles H.; Sanders, Glenn S.

doi:10.1111/1468-5906.t01-1-00160

Cited by 911Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyReligion and Society InteractionsPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Religiosity and Mental Health: A Meta–Analysis of Recent Studies

Hackney, Charles H., Sanders, Glenn S.·2003·Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

DOI 10.1111/1468-5906.t01-1-00160

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Abstract

A meta–analysis was performed in an attempt to clarify the proposed relationship between religiosity and psychological adjustment. Specific focus was given to the issue of definition, namely, whether differences in researchers’ conceptualizations of religiosity and mental health could account for the various contradictory findings by psychologists of religion. Analysis of 34 studies conducted during the past 12 years revealed that the definitions of religiosity and mental health utilized by psychologists in this field were indeed associated with different types and strengths of the correlations between religiosity and mental health. Discussion of results assesses the fit between relevant theory and the pattern of change in effect size across categories of religion and adjustment, and concludes with implications for therapeutic uses of religious involvement.

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Early studies of mental health utilization among religious people have focused on using secular mental health care providers rather than R/S providers to support coping and reductions in psychological distress.
“In part because early studies of mental health utilization among religious people have focused on using secular mental health care providers rather than R/S providers to support coping and reductions in psychological distress.32–34”
From Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults (2024) · cites this paper as [34]

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Authors: Hackney, C. H., & Sanders, G. S.
Affiliations: State University of New York (US)
Venue: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2003-02-12
Volume: 42
Issue: 1
Pages: 43-55
ISSN: 0021-8294 (ISSN-L)
1468-5906
DOI: 10.1111/1468-5906.t01-1-00160
OpenAlex: W2115995607
Cited by: 911
References: 66
Citations by year: 2026: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 66 · 2013: 50 · 2012: 55
FWCI: 16.15
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords: religiosity, mental health, psychological adjustment, conceptualization of mental health, religion and psychology, effect size heterogeneity

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Religiosity and Mental Health: A Meta–Analysis of Recent Studies

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