Childhood depression and spirituality: Insights for spiritually sensitive child-centred social work interventions

ABSTRACT

Based on a one-year longitudinal study of 1,769 children from schools across countries diagnosed with depressive symptoms, this randomized, controlled, trial-based research has investigated the influences and impact on childhood depression of two kinds of spiritual programs, customized and open-ended. Results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test showed that children had lower scores on depression scales and higher scores on the happiness scale post-intervention. Results of the logistic regression analysis and structural equation models specifically highlighted that boys, Christians, children from the middle class, and those who underwent the customized spiritual program were more likely to exhibit lower depressive symptoms and greater happiness, post-intervention. The implications of these findings for social work with depressed children have been discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Childhood depression
• children
• depression
• psychosocial intervention
• social work
• spirituality
• spiritually sensitive social work

Funding

The author acknowledges all the philanthropic persons and institutions who provided small endowments to undertake this research.

Additional information

Funding

The author acknowledges all the philanthropic persons and institutions who provided small endowments to undertake this research.