Gender differences in the relationship between religion/spirituality, well-being and depression.

Abstract

Background and aims: Numerous studies report the positive effects of religion/spirituality on mental health, including the positive association of religion/spirituality with well-being and negative association with depressive symptoms. However, few studies focus on how gender influences the relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health, and to date, no research has been conducted on this aspect among emerging adults. This study aims to test the qualitative and quantitative gender differences in the relationship between religion/spirituality and depression and well-being among emerging adults.

Method: In this mixed methodological study, data (N=523; women=62%, age=18-28) were collected with a questionnaire including CES-D-R (depression), WBI-5 (well-being), BMMRS (multidimensional measurement of religion/spi - rituality) and two open-ended qualitative questions on the perceived negative and positive effects of religion/spirituality among emerging adults.

Results: Results show a moderate relationship between religion/spirituality and well-being, as well as between religion/spirituality and depression among women, and a weak relationship between these variables among men. The dimensions of religion/spirituality which showed a significant association with well-being and depression varied by gender. According to the qualitative data, both genders conceptualize the effects of religion/spirituality on their lives in the same way; yet, a significant gender difference was found in the frequency of five qualitative codes.

Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of dimensional approach towards religion/spirituality in research and suggest gender differences in the effect-mechanism of religion/spirituality on the mental health of emerging adults. Besides, still unreported forms of the perceived negative and positive effects of religion/spirituality were found.