Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study

B. Leurent; I. Nazareth; J. Bellon-Saameno; M. -I. Geerlings; H. Maaroos; S. Saldivia; I. Svab; F. Torres-Gonzalez; M. Xavier; M. King

doi:10.1017/S0033291712003066

Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study

B. Leurent, I. Nazareth, J. Bellon-Saameno, M. -I. Geerlings, H. Maaroos, S. Saldivia, I. Svab, F. Torres-Gonzalez, M. Xavier, M. King^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. Several studies have reported weak associations between religious or spiritual belief and psychological health. However, most have been cross-sectional surveys in the USA, limiting inference about generalizability. An international longitudinal study of incidence of major depression gave us the opportunity to investigate this relationship further.

Method. Data were collected in a prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees across seven countries. Participants were followed at 6 and 12 months. Spiritual and religious beliefs were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression was made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs), after multiple imputation of missing data.

Results. The analyses included 8318 attendees. Of participants reporting a spiritual understanding of life at baseline, 10.5% had an episode of depression in the following year compared to 10.3% of religious participants and 7.0% of the secular group (p

Conclusions. These results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2109-2120
Number of pages	12
Journal	Psychological Medicine
Volume	43
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291712003066
Publication status	Published - Oct-2013

Keywords

General practice
longitudinal
major depression
religion
spirituality
GENERAL-PRACTICE ATTENDEES
POPULATION
PREDICTION
VALIDATION
DISORDERS
INTERVIEW
ADULTS
HEALTH
BIAS

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title = "Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study",

abstract = "Background. Several studies have reported weak associations between religious or spiritual belief and psychological health. However, most have been cross-sectional surveys in the USA, limiting inference about generalizability. An international longitudinal study of incidence of major depression gave us the opportunity to investigate this relationship further.Method. Data were collected in a prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees across seven countries. Participants were followed at 6 and 12 months. Spiritual and religious beliefs were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression was made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs), after multiple imputation of missing data.Results. The analyses included 8318 attendees. Of participants reporting a spiritual understanding of life at baseline, 10.5% had an episode of depression in the following year compared to 10.3% of religious participants and 7.0% of the secular group (pConclusions. These results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being.",

keywords = "General practice, longitudinal, major depression, religion, spirituality, GENERAL-PRACTICE ATTENDEES, POPULATION, PREDICTION, VALIDATION, DISORDERS, INTERVIEW, ADULTS, HEALTH, BIAS",

author = "B. Leurent and I. Nazareth and J. Bellon-Saameno and Geerlings, {M. -I.} and H. Maaroos and S. Saldivia and I. Svab and F. Torres-Gonzalez and M. Xavier and M. King",

year = "2013",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1017/S0033291712003066",

language = "English",

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pages = "2109--2120",

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T1 - Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression

T2 - an international cohort study

AU - Leurent, B.

AU - Nazareth, I.

AU - Bellon-Saameno, J.

AU - Geerlings, M. -I.

AU - Maaroos, H.

AU - Saldivia, S.

AU - Svab, I.

AU - Torres-Gonzalez, F.

AU - Xavier, M.

AU - King, M.

PY - 2013/10

Y1 - 2013/10

N2 - Background. Several studies have reported weak associations between religious or spiritual belief and psychological health. However, most have been cross-sectional surveys in the USA, limiting inference about generalizability. An international longitudinal study of incidence of major depression gave us the opportunity to investigate this relationship further.Method. Data were collected in a prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees across seven countries. Participants were followed at 6 and 12 months. Spiritual and religious beliefs were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression was made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs), after multiple imputation of missing data.Results. The analyses included 8318 attendees. Of participants reporting a spiritual understanding of life at baseline, 10.5% had an episode of depression in the following year compared to 10.3% of religious participants and 7.0% of the secular group (pConclusions. These results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being.

AB - Background. Several studies have reported weak associations between religious or spiritual belief and psychological health. However, most have been cross-sectional surveys in the USA, limiting inference about generalizability. An international longitudinal study of incidence of major depression gave us the opportunity to investigate this relationship further.Method. Data were collected in a prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees across seven countries. Participants were followed at 6 and 12 months. Spiritual and religious beliefs were assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression was made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate incidence rates and odds ratios (ORs), after multiple imputation of missing data.Results. The analyses included 8318 attendees. Of participants reporting a spiritual understanding of life at baseline, 10.5% had an episode of depression in the following year compared to 10.3% of religious participants and 7.0% of the secular group (pConclusions. These results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being.

KW - General practice

KW - longitudinal

KW - major depression

KW - religion

KW - spirituality

KW - GENERAL-PRACTICE ATTENDEES

KW - POPULATION

KW - PREDICTION

KW - VALIDATION

KW - DISORDERS

KW - INTERVIEW

KW - ADULTS

KW - HEALTH

KW - BIAS

U2 - 10.1017/S0033291712003066

DO - 10.1017/S0033291712003066

M3 - Article

SN - 0033-2917

VL - 43

SP - 2109

EP - 2120

JO - Psychological Medicine

JF - Psychological Medicine

IS - 10

ER -

Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study

Abstract

Keywords

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