Religion and Mental Health: Aspects of the Relation between Religious Measures and Positive and Negative Mental Health

Studies concerning the relationship between religion and mental health have provided substantial evidence for the existence of a positive relationship. Nevertheless, it remains largely unclear which aspects of both religion and mental health take part in this relationship. The present study uses multiple measures of religion and of mental health to obtain a more refined view of this relationship. The results show the importance of distinguishing between if a person believes (inclusion vs. exclusion of transcendence) and how a person believes (literal vs. symbolic). Religious persons who have a symbolic attitude towards religion scored higher on positive aspects of mental health (well-being). No significant results were found for negative mental health (psychological distress). Studies concerning the relationship between religion and mental health have gathered mounting evidence for an overall positive relationship. In a recent meta-analysis of 34 studies, Hackney and Sanders (2003) concluded that religion and mental health go together. However, it remains unclear which aspects of religion and mental health provoke this relation, which has also been pointed out by several other scholars (e.g., Ellison, Boardman, Williams, & Jackson, 2001). This issue seems to be a returning problem within this field of research. * Femke Janssen. Department of Cultural and Personality Psychology, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Sarah Bänziger. Department of Cultural and Personality Psychology, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: s.bänziger@ psych.ru.nl Jessie Dezutter. K.U. Leuven, Department of Psychology, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail: [email protected]. Dirk Hutsebaut. K.U. Leuven, Department of Psychology, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail: [email protected]. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: Sarah Bänziger E-mail: s.bä[email protected] belzen_f3_19-44 9/16/05 6:44 PM Page 19