Religiosity and religious and spiritual struggle and their association to depression and anxiety among adolescents admitted to inpatient psychiatric units

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between religious and spiritual (R/S) struggle and religiosity with depression and anxiety in adolescents admitted to inpatient psychiatric units of a pediatric hospital in the Midwest of the United States. We administered four self-reported scales to 71 adolescents (ages 13–17) to assess religiosity, R/S struggle, depression, and anxiety. The prevalence of R/S struggle among this population was high (88.73%). Significant associations were found between R/S struggle and depression and anxiety, linking greater R/S struggles with more severe depression or anxiety. However, no significant associations between religiosity and depression and anxiety were noted. By examining the prevalence of R/S struggle among this population and its relationship to depression and anxiety, this study contributes to the expanding research on the impact of religion and spirituality on the psychological well-being of adolescents.

Keywords:

• religion
• spiritual struggle
• chaplaincy
• mental health
• adolescent inpatient psychiatry

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Daniel Grossoehme for contributing to the initial phase of this study’s concept and design, Cate Desjardins for collecting data and critically reviewing the study proposal, Jareen Meinzen-Derr for her initial statistical support and Erin Hawley for assisting in the coordination of all aspects related to the submission phase of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors of this study declare that there is not a conflict of interest in the making of this study.