Review of Religion and Mental Health

Summary After reviewing a representative sample of the better studies exploring how religion relates to mental disorders, we have discovered several domains of positive association between the two. These include family variables, well-being and self-esteem, personal adjustment, social conduct, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual permissiveness, and suicide. On the other hand, we found little evidence supporting religious influence in the prevention of serious clinical diagnoses like bipolar disorders, major depression, schizophrenia, obsessions, and panic disorders. The role of religion in these, however, has not been sufficiently studied. Contrary to some opinions, religious affiliation is not damaging to mental health, nor is it entirely predictive of better mental health. The more useful question to ask is how a person is religious rather than whether a person is religious. Specific measures of religiosity such as intrinsic and extrinsic orientation, level of commitment, and activity level provide more informative findings than rougher estimates like affiliation.