Religiosity and religious and spiritual struggle and their association to depression and anxiety among adolescents admitted to inpatient psychiatric units.

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between religious and spiritual (R/S) struggle and religiosity with depression and anxiety in adolescents admitted to inpatient psychiatric units of a pediatric hospital in the Midwest of the United States. We administered four self-reported scales to 71 adolescents (ages 13-17) to assess religiosity, R/S struggle, depression, and anxiety. The prevalence of R/S struggle among this population was high (88.73%). Significant associations were found between R/S struggle and depression and anxiety, linking greater R/S struggles with more severe depression or anxiety. However, no significant associations between religiosity and depression and anxiety were noted. By examining the prevalence of R/S struggle among this population and its relationship to depression and anxiety, this study contributes to the expanding research on the impact of religion and spirituality on the psychological well-being of adolescents.