An interesting study out on religion and depression:
A study released by Temple University found that people who feel close to a higher power and pray often are more likely to be depressed, while people who attend religious services and feel that their lives have purpose are less likely to be depressed.
Lead researcher Joanna Maselko found that people who report being in a close relationship with a higher power are 1.5 times more likely to struggle with depression. She believes depressed people may use religion as a coping mechanism, and as a result, “they’re more closely relating to God and praying more.”
People who did not necessarily report being close to a higher power but did attend religious services regularly are 30 percent less likely to struggle with depression. Being involved in a faith-based community helps forge attachments to others, which prevents depression, the report said.
“People with high levels of existential well-being tend to have a good base, which makes them very centered emotionally,” Maselko said in a news release. “People who don’t have those things are at greater risk for depression, and those same people might also turn to religion to cope.”
The study suggests that people who have a hard time forming close relationships may turn to God for a “stable and secure attachment figure.”
“It’s hard to disentangle these elements when treating mental illness,” Maselko said. “You can’t just ask a patient if they go to church to gauge their spirituality or coping behaviors. There are other components to consider when treating patients, and it’s important information for doctors to have.”
What the study authors are trying to say is that the causality here is unclear — are people who are deeply faithful prone to depression, or are depressed people likely to turn to some sort of deep faith? Does going to church regularly lead to a healthier emotional life? Or are gregarious and emotionally balanced faithful more likely to go to church?
For myself, when I’m feeling depressed, I’m less likely to go off to church or do other social things — but, then, I’m an introvert. Conversely, I find a lot of communal happiness in a church-going setting, when I can get over that hump, and generally find the experience pleasant. (But, then, I’ve chosen a church/parish that’s a generally positive place to be.)
Or – people get in the way of God. “Taking a vow of silence.”
It makes sense to me because faith and churchgoing are different things. Faith is philosophical; it’s your take on the universe. Churchgoing is social; it’s a group association and relation, which not incidentally receives high approval in this culture.
But yeah, the line of causality is wavy and skips in places. Even if churchgoing were only a sign of mental health, rather than a cause of it, as an indicator it would be useful to a counselor.
I could go to a Unitarian church if I felt like hanging out with people, which I usually don’t. For that matter the Mennonite church here in town, which MrsDoF attends and where I have many friends, doesn’t get worried about ‘atheist in da’ howse’.
I wonder if the social aspect of church attendance might not be similar to other social and society-beneficial regular gatherings (not work or parties). Though there is a spectrum of personal tastes, we are social animals. It’s not surprising that being with people is healthier.
I wonder, how does the faith-based part of the gathering matter? Did they control for non-faith gatherings? Did they look at other types of regular, non-work gatherings and mental health?