How Spiritual Values and Worship Attendance Relate to Psychiatric Disorders in the Canadian Population
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Objective: Research into risk and protective factors for psychiatric disorders may help reduce the burden of these conditions. Spirituality and religion are 2 such factors, but research remains limited. Using a representative national sample of respondents, this study examines the relation between worship frequency and the importance of spiritual values and DSM-IV psychiatric and substance use disorders. Method: In 2002, the Canadian Community Health Survey obtained data from about 37 000 individuals aged 15 years or older. While controlling for demographic characteristics, we determined odds ratios for lifetime, 1-year, and past psychiatric disorders, with worship frequency and spiritual values as predictors. Results: Higher worship frequency was associated with lower odds of psychiatric disorders. In contrast, those who considered higher spiritual values important (in a search for meaning, in giving strength, and in understanding life's difficulties) had higher odds of most psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: This study confirms an association between higher worship frequency and lower odds of depression and it expands that finding to other psychiatric disorders. The association between spiritual values and mood, anxiety, and addictive disorders is complex and may reflect the use of spirituality to reframe life difficulties, including mental disorders.
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One cross-sectional study found that importance of religion was significantly and positively associated with religious delusions.
“one study found that importance of religion was significantly and positively associated with religious delusions [194]”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [194]
The Discussion reports a positive association between the importance of spiritual values and depression or mania, not religious delusions. Searches for “religious delusions” and for an association between importance of religion and delusions found no passage addressing the claimed outcome; the cited paper’s cross-sectional design alone does not verify that finding. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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References 34 · Cited by 122
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Heelas P, Woodhead L, editors. Religion and spirituality in the modern world. Oxford (UK): Blackwell Publishing; 2005. p 49-76 .
- Authors
- Baetz, M., Bowen, R., Jones, G., & Koru-Sengul, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Saskatchewan (CA)
- Credit Valley Hospital (CA)
- Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario
- Corresponding author
- Baetz, Marilyn
- Venue
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-09
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 654-661
- ISSN
- 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
- 1497-0015
- OpenAlex
- W2125186534
- Cited by
- 122
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 6.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Keywords
- spirituality, religious values, mental illness, depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, mood disorders, protective factors, risk factors, meaning in life, Canadian Community Health Survey
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Mental Disorders, Canada, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Periodicity, Religion, Risk Factors, Social Values, Cost of Illness, Spirituality
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