Multidimensional understanding of religiosity/spirituality: relationship to major depression and familial risk

Clayton H McClintock; Micheline Anderson; Connie Svob; Priya Wickramaratne; Richard Neugebauer; Lisa Miller; Myrna M Weissman

doi:10.1017/S0033291718003276

Multidimensional understanding of religiosity/spirituality: relationship to major depression and familial risk

Psychol Med. 2019 Oct;49(14):2379-2388. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718003276. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Authors

Clayton H McClintock¹, Micheline Anderson¹, Connie Svob^{2

3}, Priya Wickramaratne^{2

3}, Richard Neugebauer^{2

3

4}, Lisa Miller¹, Myrna M Weissman^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Spirituality Mind Body Institute, Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, USA.
² Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York City, USA.
³ Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, USA.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, USA.

Abstract

Background: Previous research has shown prospectively that religiosity/spirituality protects against depression, but these findings are commonly critiqued on two grounds, namely: (1) apparent religiosity/spirituality reflects merely an original absence of depression or elevated mood and (2) religiosity/spirituality too often is measured as a global construct. The current study investigates the relationship between depression and religiosity/spirituality by examining its multidimensional structural integrity.

Method: Confirmatory factor analyses with a previously observed cross-cultural factor structure of religiosity/spirituality variables were conducted on an independent sample, diagnostic and familial risk subgroups from this sample, and a subsample of the original cross-cultural sample. Linear regressions onto a previous diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) 5 years prior to assess the potential attenuating impact of a previous depression was explored.

Results: Across familial risk groups and clinical subgroups, each of the previously validated religiosity/spirituality domains was confirmed, namely: religious/spiritual commitment, contemplative practice, sense of interconnectedness, the experience of love, and altruistic engagement. Previous MDD diagnosis was associated with a lower religious/spiritual commitment among high-risk individuals, higher contemplation among low-risk individuals, and lower importance of religion or spirituality regardless of risk group.

Conclusions: Structural integrity was found across familial risk groups and diagnostic history for a multidimensional structure of religiosity/spirituality. Differential associations between a previous diagnosis of MDD and level of religiosity/spirituality across domains suggest a complex and interactive relation between depression, familial risk, and religiosity/spirituality. Accounting for an empirically valid, multidimensional understanding of religiosity/spirituality may advance research on mechanisms underlying the relationship between religiosity/spirituality and mental health.

Keywords: Factor analysis; familial risk; major depression; multidimensional; religiosity; spirituality.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Religion*
Risk Factors
Spirituality*

Grants and funding

R01 MH036197/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States