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Research on Religion, Spirituality, and Mental Health: A Review
Open accessAbstract
Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being examined in psychiatric research. Religious beliefs and practices have long been linked to hysteria, neurosis, and psychotic delusions. However, recent studies have identified another side of religion that may serve as a psychological and social resource for coping with stress. After defining the terms religion and spirituality, this paper reviews research on the relation between religion and (or) spirituality, and mental health, focusing on depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, and substance abuse. The results of an earlier systematic review are discussed, and more recent studies in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries are described. While religious beliefs and practices can represent powerful sources of comfort, hope, and meaning, they are often intricately entangled with neurotic and psychotic disorders, sometimes making it difficult to determine whether they are a resource or a liability.
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“Spirituality serves to comfort people, assuage anxiety, and increase feelings of security, also boosting confidence in oneself and/or in what Harold G. Koenig (2009) calls “Divine beings”.”
From Trauma, Spirituality, and Healing: A Journey through the Lens of an Incarcerated Person (2022) · cites this paper as Koenig (2009)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“In extant literature, spirituality is shown to predict psychological well-being for adults who have experienced childhood trauma (Balgobin 2021), leading to less depression, suicide, anxiety, and substance abuse (Koenig 2009).”
From Trauma, Spirituality, and Healing: A Journey through the Lens of an Incarcerated Person (2022) · cites this paper as Koenig 2009
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“The research literature on religiosity and mental health offers two entangled empirical narratives: some studies suggest that religious beliefs can present a psychological buffer against stress and hopelessness; other studies, however, indicate an intricate link between religious beliefs and psychotic and neurotic disorders [54–56].”
From Unpleasant meditation-related experiences in regular meditators: Prevalence, predictors, and conceptual considerations (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
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“As we see through Joseph's experience, Koenig (2009) shows that the struggles that arise from negative spiritual coping can significantly increase anxiety, wherein people feel that God is punishing them, has abandoned them, or is not able to intercede on their behalf.”
From Trauma, Spirituality, and Healing: A Journey through the Lens of an Incarcerated Person (2022) · cites this paper as Koenig (2009)
In the citing paper
“Also, religion and spirituality seem to confer resilience 112, 113.”
From Resilience in mental health: linking psychological and neurobiological perspectives. (2013) · cites this paper as [112]
In the citing paper
“Thus, religious beliefs may provide a sense of meaning and purpose during difficult life circumstances 112.”
From Resilience in mental health: linking psychological and neurobiological perspectives. (2013) · cites this paper as [112]
In the citing paper
“One of them is that religion and spirituality may stimulate a sense of life purpose 112, 115”
From Resilience in mental health: linking psychological and neurobiological perspectives. (2013) · cites this paper as [112]
In the citing paper
“Some authors33,34 attribute this finding to the influence of psychological theories, such as Sigmund Freud's35 psychoanalysis, which is known to have pathologized religious behavior.”
From How psychiatrists think about religious and spiritual beliefs in clinical practice: findings from a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
In the citing paper
“Religion/spirituality has been associated, for example, with lower rates of suicide, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse, better recovery in cases of depression and greater overall well-being.1–4”
From A preliminary survey on the religious profile of Brazilian psychiatrists and their approach to patients' religiosity in clinical practice (2016) · cites this paper as [3]
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Anxiety and Fear-Avoidance in Musculoskeletal Pain
Lucchetti, G., Oliveira, A. B., Mercante, J. P. P., & Peres, M. F. P. (2012) · Current Pain and Headache Reports · doi:10.1007/s11916-012-0286-7 · Cited by 74
The LIFE Model: A Meta-Theoretical Conceptual Map for Applied Positive Psychology
Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Ivtzan, I. (2014) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-014-9563-y · Cited by 78
“This includes the way cultural systems can generate values and worldviews that are generally considered conducive to wellbeing, like religion (Koenig, 2009), or detrimental, like materialism (Van Boven, 2005).”
Background"You need a song to bring you through": the use of religious songs to manage stressful life events.
Hamilton, J. B., Sandelowski, M., Moore, A., Agarwal, M., & Koenig, H. (2013) · The gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gns064 · Cited by 74
Self-citationInternational Journal for Dialogical Science
Bertau, M.-C., & Jankowski, P. J. (2011) · Cited by 71
Relationship Between Religiosity and Health: Evidence from a Post-communist Country
Thege, B. K., Pilling, J., Székely, A., & Kopp, M. (2012) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12529-012-9258-x · Cited by 70
“In line with the main stream of previous findings [5, 33], our results show that a significant positive relationship exists between religious worship and the indicators of health, with some notable exceptions with regard to intheir-own-way religious persons.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialHorses as a Crucial Part of One Health
Lönker, N. S., Fechner, K., & Wahed, A. A. E. (2020) · Veterinary Sciences · doi:10.3390/vetsci7010028 · Cited by 72
“, cattle in Hinduism) playing an important role in religion [26], which directly affects human mental health [27], horses are not part of any religion.”
BackgroundThe Long Arm of Religion: Childhood Adversity, Religion, and Self‐perception Among Black Americans
Henderson, A. K. (2016) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.1111/jssr.12262 · Cited by 70
Anderson, M. R., Miller, L., WICKRAMARATNE, P. J., Svob, C., Odgerel, Z., Zhao, R., & Weissman, M. M. (2017) · Spirituality in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1037/scp0000125 · Cited by 66
“In support of a common psychological pathway, a large literature over the past 20 years shows protective benefits of spirituality against depression (for reviews, see Koenig, 2009; Van Ness & Larson, 2002).”
BackgroundLara-Cinisomo, S., Clark, C. T., & Wood, J. (2018) · Women s Health Issues · doi:10.1016/j.whi.2018.01.003 · Cited by 66
“Although religious faith has been associated with positive mental health (Guinn & Vincent, 2002; Koenig, 2009; Mann, McKeown, Bacon, Vesselinov, & Bush, 2008), it has also been associated with poorer outcomes and less help-seeking behaviors (Mann, Mannan, Quiñones, Palmer, & Torres, 2010).”
BackgroundMenegatti-Chequini, M. C., Gonçalves, J. P. B., Leão, F. C., Peres, M. F. P., & Vallada, H. (2016) · BJPsych Open · doi:10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.002816 · Cited by 65
Religious Involvement and Perceptions of Control: Evidence from the Miami-Dade Health Survey
Pascoe, A., Hill, T. D., Mossakowski, K. N., & Johnson, R. J. (2015) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0081-y · Cited by 65
The Role of Military Chaplains in Mental Health Care of the Deployed Service Member
Besterman‐Dahan, K., Gibbons, S. W., Barnett, S. D., & Hickling, E. J. (2012) · Military Medicine · doi:10.7205/milmed-d-12-00071 · Cited by 64
Contribution of spirituality to quality of life in patients with residual schizophrenia
Shah, R., Kulhara, P., Grover, S., Kumar, S., Malhotra, R., & Tyagi, S. (2011) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2011.07.034 · Cited by 66
“, 2002), relationship between psychopathology and spiritual well-being in these patients (Compton and Furman, 2005) and,more often, in the context of copingmechanisms (Huguelet et al., 2006; Koenig, 2009) where religious coping has been shown to have positive or negative impact on social integration, suicide attempts,…”
Backgroundter Kuile, H., & Ehring, T. W. (2014) · Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy · doi:10.1037/a0034880 · Cited by 64
Religion involvement and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia in Latin America
Caqueo‐Urízar, A., Alfonso Urzúa, M., Boyer, L., & Williams, D. R. (2015) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-015-1156-5 · Cited by 63
“This article follows Koenig’s definition of the two related broad constructs: Religiosity refers to a ‘‘shared beliefs system and communal ritual practice’’ and it is often organized and practiced within a group of people in a community, however it can be practiced alone and in private or semi-private contexts [3, 4].”
BackgroundForgiveness and Health: Psycho-spiritual Integration and the Promotion of Better Healthcare
Webb, J. R., Toussaint, L. L., & Conway-Williams, E. (2012) · Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy · doi:10.1080/08854726.2012.667317 · Cited by 63
“of history, psychology, sometimes referred to as the secular priesthood (Reisner & Lawson, 1992), and spirituality have largely worked in concert with one another (Koenig, 2009).”
BackgroundPadela, A. I., & Zaidi, D. (2018) · Avicenna Journal of Medicine · doi:10.4103/ajm.ajm_134_17 · Cited by 68
“[23] Religion and spirituality also have direct effects upon mental and physical health, as they influence coping strategies and health behaviors, which in themselves create differential health risks or ameliorate the burden of disease.[24,25,26]”
Sithey, G., Li, M., Wen, L. M., Kelly, P. J., & Clarke, K. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018202 · Cited by 62
“involvement is found to be associated with a better ability to cope with stress, and depression, suicide, anxiety and substance abuse.(61) In Bhutan, Buddhist values encompass acceptance, forgiveness and law of karma, which could help to build tolerance and reduce tensions in communities, with benefits for individual…”
BackgroundThe efficacy of religious service attendance in reducing depressive symptoms
Zou, J., Huang, Y., Maldonado, L., Kasen, S., Cohen, P. R., & Chen, H. (2013) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-013-0785-9 · Cited by 64
“While both religiosity and spirituality have been examined, religiosity is concretely understood as involving beliefs, practices and rituals that are sacred [1].”
Background“Thank you God”: Religion and recovery from dual diagnosis among low-income African Americans
Whitley, R. (2011) · Transcultural Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/1363461511425099 · Cited by 62
“research converges to suggest that religiosity is a protective factor across the natural history of mental illness (Koenig, 2009; Koenig & Cohen, 2002; Levin, 1996).”
BackgroundInfluentialRasic, D. T., Asbridge, M., Kisely, S. R., & Langille, D. B. (2013) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674371305800507 · Cited by 61
Jiménez‐Fonseca, P., Lorenzo‐Seva, U., Ferrando, P. J., Carmona‐Bayonas, A., Beato, C., García, T., Muñoz, M. D. M., Ramchandani, A., Ghanem, I., Capote, A. R., et al. (2017) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3969-0 · Cited by 65
Korn, L., & Zukerman, G. (2011) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-011-9502-8 · Cited by 62
Spiritual health mediates the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease
Beshārat, M. A., Ramesh, S., & Moghimi, E. (2018) · Health Psychology Open · doi:10.1177/2055102918782176 · Cited by 61
“On the whole, various studies emphasize the role of spirituality and its importance in a person’s physical and mental health (Ballew et al., 2012; Bonelli and Koenig, 2013; Heydarzadegan and Koochakzaei, 2015; Koenig, 2009; Koenig et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2011), as well as in clinical outcomes (Delaney et al.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSocial Support and Religion: Mental Health Service Use and Treatment of Schizophrenia
Smolak, A., Gearing, R. E., Alonzo, D. M., Baldwin, S., Harmon, S. L., & McHugh, K. (2012) · Community Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1007/s10597-012-9536-8 · Cited by 61
“Religion and spirituality can have a positive influence on persons with schizophrenia, and on their treatment (Gearing et al. 2011; Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundDonovan, R. J., & Anwar‐McHenry, J. (2014) · American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · doi:10.1177/1559827614536846 · Cited by 69
“For many people, religion and spiritual activity is vital to their lifestyle, health, relationships, and deep existential issues.(45,46) Controlling for baseline health and health behaviors, people who attend religious services at least once a week live 7 years longer than those who do not (Koenig et al cited in Walsh…”
BackgroundIronson, G. H., Lucette, A., Hylton, E., Pargäment, K. I., & KRAUSE, N. M. (2018) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0600-8 · Cited by 60
Religion-Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review and Description of Techniques
Costa, M. D. A., & Moreira-Almeida, A. (2021) · Journal of religion and health · doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01345-z · Cited by 62
“%) reports some religious affiliation and most clients want their therapist to address religiousness in their psychotherapeutic process (Post & Wade, 2009); moreover, religion has an impact on mental health (Koenig, 2009; Moreira-Almeida et al., 2014).”
BackgroundLomas, T. (2017) · Psychology of Religion and Spirituality · doi:10.1037/rel0000080 · Cited by 60
Hayward, R. D., Owen, A. D., Koenig, H. G., Steffens, D. C., & Payne, M. E. (2012) · Depression Research and Treatment · doi:10.1155/2012/745970 · Cited by 60
“Hindawi Publishing Corporation Depression Research and Treatment Volume 2012, Article ID 745970, 8 pages doi:10.1155/2012/745970 Research Article Longitudinal Relationships of Religion with Posttreatment Depression Severity in Older Psychiatric Patients: Evidence of Direct and Indirect Effects R. David Hayward,1 Amy D…”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationA systematic review of religion/spirituality and sport: A psychological perspective
Noh, Y., & Shahdan, S. (2019) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101603 · Cited by 79
Religiosity in young adolescents with auditory vocal hallucinations
Steenhuis, L. A., Bartels‐Velthuis, A. A., Jenner, J. A., Aleman, A., Bruggeman, R., Nauta, M. H., & Pijnenborg, G. H. M. (2015) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.12.014 · Cited by 58
“If religion is indeed a source of comfort and hope for individuals who are faced with psychotic symptoms (Koenig, 2009; Rosmarin et al., 2013) and improves quality of life (Shah et al., 2011), adolescents reporting AVH might be more likely to report religious activity, as a method of coping.”
InfluentialOuwehand, E., Braam, A. W., Renes, J., Muthert, H., Stolp, H. A., Garritsen, H. H., & Zock, H. (2019) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000965 · Cited by 58
Berry, D. M., & York, K. (2011) · Nursing and Health Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1442-2018.2011.00584.x · Cited by 58
Borderline Personality Disorder and Religion: A perspective from a Muslim country.
Hafizi, S., Tabatabaei, D., & Koenig, H. G. (2014) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 57
Self-citationRelationship between spirituality/religiousness and coping in patients with residual schizophrenia
Shah, R., Kulhara, P., Grover, S., Kumar, S., Malhotra, R., & Tyagi, S. (2011) · Quality of Life Research · doi:10.1007/s11136-010-9839-6 · Cited by 57
Shepherd, A. M., Schnitker, S. A., Leffel, G. M., Mueller, R. A. O., Curlin, F. A., Yoon, J. D., & Greenway, T. S. (2017) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2016.1269185 · Cited by 57
“Furthermore, in a comprehensive review examining the relations between religion/spirituality and physical and mental health conditions, Koenig (2009) found that there was a positive relationship between health outcomes and religion or spirituality, both in longitudinal and correlational studies.”
BackgroundAllen, J. D., Leyva, B., Torres, M. I., Ospino, H., Tom, L. S., Rustan, S., & Bartholomew, A. (2014) · Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved · doi:10.1353/hpu.2014.0080 · Cited by 56
Spirituality and Religiosity in the Aftermath of a Natural Catastrophe in Italy
Stratta, P., Capanna, C., Riccardi, I., Perugi, G., Toni, C., Dell’Osso, L., & Rossi, A. (2012) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-012-9591-z · Cited by 56
“…concept of the religious faith, spirituality and religiousness have been considered discrete dimensions that differently influence and promote psychological and physical health, as well as stress ameliorating effects (McCullough et al. 2000; Powell et al. 2001; Chen and Koenig 2006; Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialCaldeira, S., Timmins, F., de Carvalho, E. C., & Vieira, M. M. D. S. (2017) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-017-0390-4 · Cited by 56
“There is evidence that higher levels of spirituality are related to fewer depressive disorders (Koenig 2009), but this does not mean that depression is similar to spiritual distress.”
BackgroundResultMaraldi, E. D. O. (2018) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0639-6 · Cited by 63
“A significant body of research supports the existence of a positive association between religiosity/spirituality (R/S) and a range of mental health indicators, from subjective wellbeing to enhanced coping capacity (Bonelli and Koenig 2013; Koenig 2009; Pargament and Lomax 2013).”
BackgroundThe Role of Religion in the Work Lives and Coping Strategies of Ugandan Nurses
Bakibinga, P., Vinje, H. F., & Mittelmark, M. B. (2013) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9728-8 · Cited by 58
Feinson, M. C., & Hornik‐Lurie, T. (2016) · Clinical Social Work Journal · doi:10.1007/s10615-016-0574-5 · Cited by 55
Characteristics of Spirituality and Religion Among Suicide Attempters
Mandhouj, O., Perroud, N. A., Hasler, R., Younès, N., & Huguelet, P. (2016) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000497 · Cited by 55
“…studies investigating the relationship between religiosity and suicidal behaviors showed the protective effect of religious and spiritual practices on the risk of suicide and suicide attempts (Bostwick and Rummans, 2007; Goldston et al., 2008; Koenig et al., 2001; Koenig, 2009; Sloan et al., 1999).”
BackgroundPerceptions of Chaplains’ Value and Impact Within Hospital Care Teams
Cunningham, C. J. L., Panda, M., Lambert, J., Daniel, G., & DeMars, K. (2017) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-017-0418-9 · Cited by 55
The effect of religiosity on the relationship between BMI and body image among Iranian women.
Sharif, S. P., Ahadzadeh, A. S., & Ong, F. S. (2018) · Psychology of Religion and Spirituality · doi:10.1037/rel0000193 · Cited by 55
“…other words, in Iran, women’s religiosity dampens the association between BMI and negative body image, which is similar to past studies supporting the buffering role of religiosity and religious coping behaviors in protection against psychiatric disturbances (Bonelli & Koenig, 2013; Koenig, 2009).”
ResultRole of Religious Attendance and Identity Conflict in Psychological Well-being
Hamblin, R. J., & Gross, A. M. (2011) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-011-9514-4 · Cited by 55
“Though a review of the literature suggests an inverse relationship between church attendance and anxiety symptoms, a few investigators have failed to observe this relationship or have found increased anxiety symptoms with increased attendance (Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundLawrence, R. E., Rasinski, K. A., Yoon, J. D., & Curlin, F. A. (2013) · International Journal of Social Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0020764013511066 · Cited by 53
“, 2007) and empirical data support that many patients suffering from mental health concerns benefit from religion (Koenig, 2009; Koenig, Larson, & Weaver, 1998).”
BackgroundRoles of Religious and Spiritual Advisors Among Adults in Singapore With Mental Illnesses
Picco, L., Subramaniam, M., Abdin, E., Vaingankar, J. A., Zhang, Y., & Chong, S. A. (2013) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201200533 · Cited by 54
Religion, Volunteerism and Health: Are Religious People Really Doing Well by Doing Good?
Yeung, J. W. K. (2017) · Social Indicators Research · doi:10.1007/s11205-017-1671-8 · Cited by 55
Ouwehand, E., Braam, A. W., Renes, J. W., Muthert, H., & Zock, H. (2019) · Pastoral Psychology · doi:10.1007/s11089-019-00892-3 · Cited by 53
“Religion has been reported to play an important role in coping with serious mental illness and can serve as a positive source for recovery for many patients with such a condition (Huguelet et al. 2016; Koenig 2009; Mohr et al. 2012).”
BackgroundSaffari, M., Zeidi, I. M., Pakpour, A. H., & Koenig, H. G. (2012) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-012-9639-0 · Cited by 53
“Many studies have shown that religiosity has a potential impact physical and mental health (Cohen et al. 2010; Koenig 2009; Rippentrop et al. 2005).”
BackgroundSelf-citationRole of religion, spirituality, and faith in assisted reproduction
Braga, D. P. D. A. F., Melamed, R. M. M., Setti, A. S., Zanetti, B. F., Figueira, R. D. C. S., Iaconelli, A., & Borges, E. (2018) · Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology · doi:10.1080/0167482x.2018.1470163 · Cited by 52
“A positive correlation between religious involvement and better adaptation to medical conditions has been reported [38].”
BackgroundGamieldien, F., Galvaan, R., MYERS, B. J., Syed, Z., & Sorsdahl, K. R. (2021) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045005 · Cited by 51
Post-traumatic growth among Syrian refugees in Turkey: The role of coping strategies and religiosity
Ersahin, Z. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-020-00763-8 · Cited by 51
“As part of active coping strategies, turning to religion in the face of trauma has proven its worth as a source of PTG (Koenig 2009; Abu-Raiya et al. 2010).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPsychiatric disease incidence among Danish Seventh-day Adventists and Baptists
Thygesen, L. C., Dalton, S. O., Johansen, C., Ross, L., Kessing, L. V., & Hvidt, N. C. (2013) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-013-0669-z · Cited by 51
“Some researchers suggest that religious involvement is associated with lower rate of depression by means of the encouragement of coping strategies through spiritual, intellectual, and social avenues [14–28], which is in line with our results, except for women for whom an increased”
BackgroundResultGod, Purpose in Life, and Mental Well‐Being Among Older Adults
Rainville, C., & Mehegan, L. (2018) · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · doi:10.1111/jssr.12565 · Cited by 51
Secular and Religious Social Support Better Protect Blacks than Whites against Depressive Symptoms
Assari, S., & Lankarani, M. M. (2018) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs8050046 · Cited by 51
“This is also in line with other theoretical [28] and empirical [29–31] work on the protective effects of religious social support on health.”
ResultMental health and stigma in Saudi Arabia: a scoping review
Alattar, N., Felton, A., & Stickley, T. (2021) · Mental Health Review Journal · doi:10.1108/mhrj-08-2020-0055 · Cited by 56
Poorolajal, J., Goudarzi, M., Gohari-Ensaf, F., & Darvishi, N. (2021) · Journal of Research in Health Sciences · doi:10.34172/jrhs.2022.72 · Cited by 53
Spirituality, depression and quality of life in medical students in KwaZulu-Natal
Pillay, N. L., Ramlall, S., & Burns, J. K. (2016) · South African Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v22i1.731 · Cited by 56
The Impact of Spirituality on Health
Tabei, S. Z., Zarei, N., & Joulaei, H. (2016) · Shiraz E-Medical Journal · doi:10.17795/semj39053 · Cited by 51
The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience
Newberg, A. B. (2017) · Springer series in cognitive and neural systems · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29674-6_29 · Cited by 51
Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health and Quality of Life of Early Pregnant Women
Panconi, C. R., Almeida, V. D. C., Ezequiel, O. D. S., Fajardo, E. F. D. M., Lucchetti, A. L. G., & Lucchetti, G. (2021) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-020-01124-2 · Cited by 52
“2012a, b), better quality of life and psychiatric outcomes (Koenig 2009; Bonelli and Koenig 2013) and also a lower mortality rate (Lucchetti et al.”
BackgroundA Platform for Nursing Research on Spirituality and Religiosity
Cohen, M. Z., Holley, L., Wengel, S. P., & Katzman, R. M. (2012) · Western Journal of Nursing Research · doi:10.1177/0193945912444321 · Cited by 55
“…Steptoe, & Powell, 2009; Chiu, Emblen, van Hofwegen, Sawatzky, & Meyerhoff, 2004; Flannelley, Weaver, & Costa, 2004; Hollywell & Walker, 2009; Koenig, 2009; Koenig, McCullough, & Larson, 2001; Larson, 1993; Matthews et al., 1993; Matthews & Larson, 1995; Matthews & Saunders, 1997; Morse &…”
BackgroundSerinolli, M. I., & Novaretti, M. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180009 · Cited by 53
“Religious beliefs and spirituality are reported in nearly 90% of the population worldwide [31].”
BackgroundKos, L., Šagud, M., Mihaljević-Peleš, A., Kutleša, M., Kovač, T., & Trkulja, V. (2019) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000001003 · Cited by 48
“T here is a considerable body of evidence that spirituality and religious beliefs and practices may be important resources for coping with stress, somatic, and mental illnesses (Aldwin et al., 2014; Bonelli and Koenig, 2013; Koenig, 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialPredictors of Psychiatric Outpatient Adherence after an Emergency Room Visit for a Suicide Attempt
Shin, J. Y., Yang, S., Park, D., Ryu, S., Ha, J. H., Kim, J. W., & Jeon, H. J. (2020) · Psychiatry Investigation · doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0130 · Cited by 49
Risk and protective factors for substance use among Iranian university students: a national study
Taremian, F., Yaghubi, H., Pairavi, H., Hosseini, S. R., Zafar, M., & Moloodi, R. (2018) · Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy · doi:10.1186/s13011-018-0181-2 · Cited by 50
Depressed Affect and Dimensions of Religiosity in Family Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia
Winter, L., Moriarty, H., Atte, F., & Gitlin, L. N. (2015) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0033-6 · Cited by 47
Influencing Factors of Depression among Adolescent Asians in North America: A Systematic Review
Zou, P., Siu, A., Wang, X., Shao, J., Hallowell, S. G., Yang, L. L., & Zhang, H. (2021) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare9050537 · Cited by 48
“More than ninety observational studies examining the relation between religion and depression in the general population exist, with the majority stating that those who are more religious experience fewer depressive symptoms [115].”
BackgroundPreliminary psychometrics of the Existential Distress Scale in patients with advanced cancer
Lo, C., Panday, T., Zeppieri, J., Rydall, A., Murphy-Kane, P., Zimmermann, C., & Rodin, G. (2017) · European Journal of Cancer Care · doi:10.1111/ecc.12597 · Cited by 44
The Iraqi national study of suicide: Report on suicide data in Iraq in 2015 and 2016
Abbas, M. J., Al-Hemiary, N. J., Razaq, E. A., Naosh, S., & Appleby, L. (2017) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.037 · Cited by 47
Understanding everyday life and mental health recovery through CHIME
Piat, M., Seida, K., & Sabetti, J. (2017) · Mental Health and Social Inclusion · doi:10.1108/mhsi-08-2017-0034 · Cited by 46
Suicidal intention and negative spiritual coping one year after the earthquake of L'Aquila (Italy)
Stratta, P., Capanna, C., Riccardi, I., Carmassi, C., Piccinni, A., Dell'Osso, L., & Rossi, A. (2012) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2011.10.006 · Cited by 68
Religious involvement and obsessive compulsive disorder among African Americans and Black Caribbeans
Himle, J. A., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2012) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.02.003 · Cited by 46
Lackner, N., Unterrainer, ., & Neubauer, A. C. (2013) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-013-9445-2 · Cited by 49
“Formerly, religious/spiritual involvement has been associated with positive outcomes in substance dependent patients, including coping and dealing with stress and depression (Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundMadrigal, V. N., Carroll, K. W., Faerber, J., Walter, J. K., Morrison, W. E., & Feudtner, C. (2015) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.10.061 · Cited by 46
Piat, M., Seida, K., Sabetti, J., & Padgett, D. K. (2017) · Health & Place · doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.07.006 · Cited by 52
“Our findings suggest that ‘holy places’ and related spiritual activities are not only sources of meaning and purpose (Koenig, 2009), but also bolster specific coping strategies and psychosocial resilience (Tepper et al.”
BackgroundPerceived religious discrimination and mental health
Wu, Z., & Schimmele, C. M. (2019) · Ethnicity and Health · doi:10.1080/13557858.2019.1620176 · Cited by 42
“This finding is consistent with studies that show that religious involvement decreases rates of depression and anxiety and improves coping with stress (see Koenig 2009 for a review).”
BackgroundResultMcCann, E., Donohue, G., & Timmins, F. (2020) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-020-00989-7 · Cited by 46
“…spirituality, youth may develop coping strategies and resilience through a renewed sense of faith and finding affirmative people and spiritual communities that are open, supportive and can validate expressions of sexuality and gender identity and encourage good mental health (Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundSpirituality and hearing voices: considering the relation
McCarthy‐Jones, S., Waegeli, A., & Watkins, J. W. (2013) · Psychosis · doi:10.1080/17522439.2013.831945 · Cited by 48
Sullivan, S. D., Pyne, J. M., Cheney, A. M., Hunt, J. B., Haynes, T. F., & Sullivan, G. (2013) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-013-9731-0 · Cited by 45
“Fortunately, over the last several decades, progress has been made in the tension between the pew and the couch (Aten and Worthington 2009; Koenig 2009; Pargament and Saunders 2007).”
BackgroundEducational Attainment Influences Levels of Homozygosity through Migration and Assortative Mating
Abdellaoui, A., Hottenga, J., Willemsen, G. A. H. M., Bartels, M., van Beijsterveldt, T., Ehli, E. A., Davies, G. E., Brooks, A. I., Sullivan, P. F., Penninx, B. W. J. H., et al. (2015) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118935 · Cited by 43
“These findings are relevant for genetic association studies, since these behaviors can be associated with additional traits of interest, like psychiatric disorders with religiosity [1,48], or IQ with EA [22].”
BackgroundSnodgrass, J. G., Most, D. E., & Upadhyay, C. (2017) · Current Anthropology · doi:10.1086/691212 · Cited by 48
Faith-Based Hospitals and Variation in Psychiatric Inpatient Length of Stay in California, 2002–2011
Banta, J. E., & McKinney, O. (2015) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0175-6 · Cited by 44
“Religious activities, attitudes, and spiritual experiences are common in hospitalized older adults and are correlated with better psychological health—including fewer depressive symptoms, greater social support, better physical health, and better coping with chronic disease (Koenig 2009).”
BackgroundPerceptions of Accountability to God and Psychological Well-Being Among US Adults
Bradshaw, M., Kent, B. V., Witvliet, C., Johnson, B. R., Jang, S., & Leman, J. (2022) · Journal of religion and health · doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01471-8 · Cited by 18
“…data-set with consideration of the existing literature documenting associations between religion/spirituality and PWB (AbdAleati et al., 2016; Koenig, 2009), as well as data linking accountability to other humans with desirable outcomes (Balderson & Sharpe, 2005; Hall et al., 2017; Peloza et…”
BackgroundPeople living with serious illness: stories of spirituality
Molzahn, A. E., Sheilds, L. E., Bruce, A., Stajduhar, K., Schick‐Makaroff, K., Beuthin, R. E., & Shermak, S. (2012) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04196.x · Cited by 49
Religion, coping and outcome in out‐patients with depression or diabetes mellitus
Amadi, K. U., Uwakwe, R., Odinka, P. C., Ndukuba, A. C., Muomah, C. R., & OHAERI, J. U. (2015) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.12537 · Cited by 48
“As noted earlier, several studies on religion and depression indicate that religious populations may experience lower prevalence of depression (5), and devout religious commitment (intrinsic religiosity in particular) has been associated with lower rates of depression and quicker recovery from depression (11–14).”
BackgroundInfluentialDarvyri, P. P., Christodoulakis, S., Galanakis, M., Avgoustidis, A. G., Thanopoulou, A. C., & Chrousos, G. P. (2018) · Psychology · doi:10.4236/psych.2018.94046 · Cited by 43
“These studies have been performed in a very complex field, granted that there are a number of possible pathways linking disease management (Rivera-Hernandez, 2016) and religiosity affecting health outcomes (Koenig, 2001; Tarakeshwar et al., 2006; Aina, 2006; Agara, 2008; Koenig, 2009).”
BackgroundSpirituality in Patients With Heart Failure
Tobin, R. S., Cosiano, M. F., O’Connor, C. M., Fiuzat, M., Granger, B. B., Rogers, J. G., Tulsky, J. A., Steinhauser, K. E., & Mentz, R. J. (2022) · JACC Heart Failure · doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2022.01.014 · Cited by 59
Effects of Religion and Faith on Mental Health
Papaleontiou–Louca, E. (2020) · New Ideas in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2020.100833 · Cited by 51
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in Middle Eastern/Arab Women
Haque, A., Namawar, A., & Breene, K.-A. (2015) · Journal of Muslim Mental Health · doi:10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0009.104 · Cited by 42
Religiosidade e espiritualidade em oncologia: concepções de profissionais da saúde
Gobatto, C. A., & de Araújo, T. C. C. F. (2013) · Psicologia USP · doi:10.1590/s0103-65642013000100002 · Cited by 42
Chaze, F., Thomson, M. S., George, U., & Guruge, S. (2015) · Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health · doi:10.7870/cjcmh-2015-015 · Cited by 44
“Koenig (2009) states that religious beliefs can provide a sense of meaning and purpose in times of difficulty; it provides an optimistic world view and positive role models that help the acceptance of suffering and offer communities of support.”
BackgroundLomas, T., Cartwright, T., Edginton, T. L., & Ridge, D. (2015) · Men and Masculinities · doi:10.1177/1097184x15578531 · Cited by 50
“However, by connecting with others in the CoP, many men here felt supported when in distress, corroborating the ‘religion-health connection’ (Ellison & Levin, 1998), where religious participation can potentially ‘buffer’ against stress (Koenig, 2009).”
InfluentialPaloutzian, R. F., Ağılkaya-Şahi̇n, Z., Bruce, K. C., Kvande, M. N., Maliňáková, K., Marquês, L. F., Musa, A. S., Nojomi, M., Öztürk, E. E., Putri, I. P., et al. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-52140-0_17 · Cited by 41
Moritz, S., Kelly, M. T., Xu, T. J., Toews, J., & Rickhi, B. (2011) · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2011.05.006 · Cited by 35
“Br J Soc Clin Psychol 1967;6(4):278—96.”
Exploring Religiosity, Self-Esteem, Stress, and Depression Among Students of a Cypriot University
Sakellari, Ε., Psychogiou, M., Georgiou, A., Papanidi, M., Vlachou, V., & Sapountzi‐Krepia, D. (2017) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi:10.1007/s10943-017-0410-4 · Cited by 40
Mental Health, Religion, and Spirituality
Oman, D., & Lukoff, D. G. (2018) · Religion, spirituality and health: a social scientific approach · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73966-3_13 · Cited by 49
Metadata
- Authors
- Koenig, H. G.
- Affiliations
- Duke Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Koenig, Harold G
- ORCID
- Koenig, Harold G
- Venue
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-05
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 283-291
- ISSN
- 0706-7437 (ISSN-L)
- 1497-0015
- OpenAlex
- W181914314
- Cited by
- 1,442
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 53 · 2025: 88 · 2024: 100 · 2023: 90 · 2022: 100 · 2021: 122 · 2020: 153 · 2019: 85 · 2018: 101 · 2017: 75 · 2016: 83 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 73 · 2013: 81 · 2012: 76
- FWCI
- 8.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health, Duke University
- 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
- religion, spirituality, mental health, depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, stress coping, religious beliefs and practices, neurosis, psychotic delusions
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders, Mental Disorders, Culture, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Mental Health, Prognosis, Psychotic Disorders, Religion and Psychology, Suicide, Substance-Related Disorders, Spirituality
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