Depressed? It could be that religion – or ‘spirituality’ in particular – might well be the cause
RELIGION, and even more, spirituality not tied to formal religion, appears to be unhelpful in terms of protecting you from low moods, and could even be linked to greater depression, according to a major new study entitled Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study.
The relationship with religious and spiritual belief was investigated in depth by researchers led by Professor Michael King from University College London. Over 8,000 people visiting general practices across seven countries were followed up at six and 12 months. The general practices were in the UK, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Chile. These general practices covered urban and rural populations with considerable socio-economic variation.
A key finding of the study, according to this report, is that a spiritual life view predisposed people to major depression. This was especially significant the UK, where spiritual participants were nearly three times more likely to experience an episode of depression than the secular group.
The study has just been published in one of the most respected academic psychiatric journals, Psychological Medicine. The study defined religion as meaning the practice of a faith, eg going to a temple, mosque, church or synagogue. Being “spiritual” was defined as not formally following a religion, but having spiritual beliefs or experiences. For example, believing that there is some power or force other than yourself, which might in?uence life.
Regardless of country, the stronger the spiritual or religious belief at the start of the study, the higher the risk of onset of depression.
Although the main ?nding of an association between religious life understanding and onset of depression varied by country, there was no evidence that spirituality may protect people, and only weak evidence that a religious life view was possibly protective in two countries (Slovenia and the Netherlands).
The incidence of depression over the subsequent 12 months was similar across the di?erent religious denominations (Catholic 9.8 percent, Protestant 10.9 percent, other religions 11.5 percent, no speci?c religion 10.8 percent).
Those with the more strongly held religious or spiritual convictions were twice as likely to experience major depression in the subsequent 12 months.
Hat tip: Michael Cohen