The impact of religiousness on life satisfaction and anxiety level of the patients with depression disorders treated at the neuro-psychiatric center in riem, munich

Abstract

Introduction

Religious people suffer less from depression disorder than less or non-religious people. According to a longitudinal study investigating religiousness and negative life events, religious participants demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms than non-religious. Furthermore, depressed patients with higher religiosity scores show lower values of depression symptoms.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between religiosity and patients with depression symptoms in the Neuro-Psychiatric Center in Riem (NPZR). The correlation between religiousness and life satisfaction as well as anxiety level was analyzed. Additionally, possible gender differences are also assesed.

Methods

The patients of the NPZR were selected as sample of the study (N =106, F=61, M=45). The participants were provided with three surveys including the life satisfaction questionnaire, state trait anxiety inventory and the Centrality Scale. A Pearson Correlation was conducted to investigate the association between life satisfaction, level of anxiety and religiousness. T-Test was carried out to find out the differences between female and male patients.

Results

There was a positive relationship between religiousness and life satisfaction of the depressed patients (r = .608, p= .001). There was also a significant relationship between religiosity and anxiety level (r = - .548, p < .001). However there was no significant difference between male and female patients with regard to their religiousness (t= .149, p= .882).

Conclusions

The findings indicate that while there is a significant relationship between life satisfaction, level of anxiety and religiousness of the patients, the gender of the patients has no impact on the religiosity of participants.