Joining and leaving a new religious movement: A study of ex-members’ mental health

Abstract

The impact of membership in new, often socially contested, religious movements (NRMs) on mental health of members and ex-members is still a controversial question in the psychological literature. In the present study, we interviewed 20 ex-members of various NRMs who also completed questionnaires measuring several cognitive (need for closure, world assumptions) and affective-emotional (parental and adult attachment, social relationships, depression) constructs. Ex-members were then compared with current NRM members and with individuals not involved in NRMs. It appeared that NRM membership compensated for some previously existing vulnerabilities reported by members (insecure attachment in childhood, few social relationships, negative life events). However, this supportive effect did not persist after the destabilizing experience of disaffiliation. Yet, ex-members remained strong believers and were very inclined to spirituality.

Acknowledgements

This study was part of a project financed by the Belgian Science Policy (Grant SO/10/71). The authors are grateful to Stefania Casalfiore, Louis-Léon Christians, and Nathalie Thielgen for their help and comments on many stages of the study.

Notes

Notes

[1] We are aware that no definition is perfect for describing this kind of movement and the corresponding literature. “Cults” or “cult-like movements” are terms highly criticized by sociologists of religion, although the higher danger of some religious movements with regard to other religious groups is not an absurd hypothesis. “New religious movements” is a term that has the advantage of avoiding an a priori stigmatization of groups that probably are perceived as bizarre by the society because they are (simply) new. In the broader project the present study is part of, we introduced the term “contested religious movements” taking into account the fact that some religious groups (mostly new worldwide, but all new for a historically Catholic country such as Belgium) are seen rather negatively by society, clearly more negatively than traditional established religious groups. (This may include also some Catholic religious groups who are seen with suspicion by the Belgian society.) However, for communicability reasons, we maintain here the term NRM.

[2] Use of interviews is an appropriate measurement method when the sample size is rather small, as is usually the case with NRM ex-members, especially in small countries. Additionally, the use of questionnaires would allow us to quantitatively compare with previous data—when available—from NRM members or from non-NRM samples and to draw conclusions—when the results were significant. Finally, combining information, where pertinent, provided through different methods, i.e., interview and questionnaire, would enhance the strength of conclusions.