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Spirituality, Religiousness and Mental Health: Scientific Evidence

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Spirituality, Religiousness and Health

Part of the book series: Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach ((RELSPHE,volume 4))

Abstract

This chapter reviews the main and most robust scientific evidence on the relationship between Religiousness/Spirituality (R/S) and mental health. We discuss the proposed mechanisms involved in this relationship, such as purpose and meaning in life, optimism, gratitude, social support, self-esteem, cognitive framework (involving, for example, a sense of coherence), healthier lifestyle, etc. In general, individuals who have higher levels of religious and spiritual involvement have lower rates of depression, suicidal behaviour, and alcohol and drug use and abuse. Although less consistent, there are studies indicating R/S as useful for coping with anxiety and psychotic symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center in Spirituality and Health (NUPES), School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Alexandre de Rezende-Pinto, Cristiane Silva Curcio Schumann & Alexander Moreira-Almeida

  2. Section on Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry, World Psychiatric Association, Geneva, Switzerland

    Alexander Moreira-Almeida

Authors
  1. Alexandre de Rezende-Pinto
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  2. Cristiane Silva Curcio Schumann
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  3. Alexander Moreira-Almeida
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Correspondence to Alexander Moreira-Almeida .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Giancarlo Lucchetti

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario Fernando Prieto Peres  & Rodolfo Furlan Damiano  & 

  3. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario Fernando Prieto Peres

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de Rezende-Pinto, A., Schumann, C.S.C., Moreira-Almeida, A. (2019). Spirituality, Religiousness and Mental Health: Scientific Evidence. In: Lucchetti, G., Prieto Peres, M.F., Damiano, R.F. (eds) Spirituality, Religiousness and Health. Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21221-6_5

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