Religious doubts and mental health in adolescence and young adulthood: The association with religious attitudes

Psychometric Properties of a Persian Version of the SpREUK-P Questionnaire: An Instrument for Measuring the Importance and Frequency of Spiritual/Religious Practices in Iranian Patients with Chronic Gastrointestinal Diseases

Attention to spiritual and religious issues is considered an important therapeutic method for patients with chronic disorders. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a Persian version of the SpREUK-P questionnaire for evaluating spiritual and religious opinions among Iranian patients with chronic gastrointestinal diseases. This cross-sectional study was performed on 233 adult patients referring to the gastrointestinal clinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, in 2017. The Persian version of the SpREUK-P questionnaire was prepared through the forward-backward translation method. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Furthermore, the construct validity of the instrument was assessed via exploratory factor analysis, while convergent and discriminant validity were investigated using Spearman correlation. Cultural adaptation, linguistic equivalency, and content validity of the Persian version of the SpREUK-P questionnaire were approved by a ten-member team of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Content validity indices were more than 0.8% across all items. Cronbach's alpha coefficients in terms of importance and practices were 0.81 and 0.71, respectively. Furthermore, the Persian version of the SpREUK-P showed excellent convergent validity and moderate to excellent discriminant validity. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that all items were loaded properly on their own subscales, except for two items in the practice aspect and one item in the importance aspect. In conclusion, this study showed that the developed Persian SpREUK-P questionnaire is appropriate for assessing spiritual/religious opinions in Iranian patients with chronic diseases.

Does Spiritual Well-Being Affect Medication Adherence in Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness in Turkey?

Spiritual well-being has been evaluated as an important factor for both physical and mental recovery. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between spiritual well-being and medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with mental illness. The study was conducted as a correlational descriptive study. The study sample consisted of 410 individuals diagnosed with mental illness. The study was conducted in the psychiatry clinic of a university hospital. The data were collected using a descriptive information form, the spiritual well-being scale, and the Morisky medication adherence scale. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between spiritual well-being and treatment adherence (r = 0.856, p = 0.002). Patient spiritual well-being was significant in explaining medication adherence (R² = 0.48, p = 0.000). This study showed that spiritual well-being affected medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with mental illness.

The Self-perceived Mental Health Status and Factors That Influence the Mental Health of Chinese Submariners in the South China Sea: A Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

To assess the self-perceived mental health of soldiers and officers in the submarine force in the South China Sea, the result of this investigation was compared to the Chinese military male norms, and the factors that influence their mental health was further explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 580 male submariners agreed to participate. In the final analysis, 511 valid questionnaires were included; 69 incomplete questionnaires were excluded. The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used to measure the self-perceived mental health of the officers and soldiers.

RESULTS

The scores of four dimensions (somatization, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation) and the average of the total SCL-90 scores for the submarine force in the South China Sea were significantly higher than the Chinese military norms. Age and length of service were found to be protective factors, with 26- to 30-year-old age group (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.365, 95% CI = 0.138-0.961) and individuals with 6 to 10 years of service (AOR = 0.357, 95% CI = 0.151-0.842) having lower odds of poor mental health. Education level (bachelor's degree) and workplace (nuclear submarine) were found to be risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates for the first time that soldiers and officers in the submarine force in the South China Sea are exposed to a number of mental health risks and are suffering from serious psychological problems. These findings provide a basis for military departments to effectively address these psychological problems.

Our transformational leader might be replaced, we are extremely stressed out!

Purpose

This study aims to tackle employees’ stress and emotions in periods of changes in leadership positions, especially if the leader to be replaced is previously found to be transformational.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data are collected from WhatsApp conversations between different subordinates, hours around the declaration of the appointment decision. Data presentation includes messages exchanged, as well as photos, emojis and voice notes.

Findings

The participants’ messages reflected their stress. They are drained, desperate and praying God so their transformational leader is reappointed. Fear and sadness are the two types of emotion experienced by employees during the anticipation and confirmation stages of the change process, respectively. The emotional contagion among subordinates is revealed in the way the messages and the replies are very close in content.

Research limitations/implications

The low number of participants makes the results obtained specific to the case itself. However, this study triggers future research addressing same research propositions under different leadership styles and in different cultures.

Originality/value

The value of this research lies in the topic addressed, as no literature is found discussing employees stress in periods of change in a transformational leadership position, specifically. Moreover, its originality lies in the method of data collection which depicts the participants’ live and real feelings and emotions on that moment.

Investigation of correlation between religious attitude and mother-adolescent girls conflict

BACKGROUND

Religion is considered as one of the factors influencing one's behavior and cognition and plays an important role in shaping the individual's lifestyle. People with religious beliefs, due to less stress, may have less conflict with others.

OBJECTIVE

Comparison of adolescents with high and low religious attitudes in terms of conflict with mother.

METHODOLOGY

This is a cross-sectional, analytic, epidemiological study on girls aged between 15 to 18 years in middle and high schools of Shiraz. The sample size, with a percentage of conflict in a sample of 86 pilots, was 509. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, conflict tactics scale parents (CTSP), and religious attitude questionnaire.

RESULTS

There was no significant relationship between religious attitude and individuals' reasoning tactics (P = 0.072), and physical aggression tactics (P = 0.83) of the girls with mother conflict resolution. However, there was a significant relationship between religious attitude and verbal aggression tactics (P = 0.83) of adolescents and mothers (P = 0.04(. There was a significant difference between religious attitudes and total the girls with mother conflict resolution scale (P = 0.003). Relationship between religious attitude and individuals' reasoning tactics in conflict resolution (P = 0.072) and physical aggression tactics (P = 0.83) of self and mother was not seen significant relationship.

CONCLUSION

The majority of girls (91.2%) had a moderate religious attitude (48.4%) at low levels of conflict. There was a significant relationship between religious attitude and the total score of There was no significant relationship between religious attitude and individuals' reasoning tactics (P = 0.072) and physical aggression tactics (P = 0.83) of the girls with mother conflict resolution conflict.

Processes of Religious and Spiritual Influence in Adolescence: A Systematic Review of 30 Years of Research

This is a systematic review of 30 years (1988-2017) of empirical research on processes of religious/spiritual influence in adolescence. We followed a multi-step process that resulted in 241 studies organized according to eight research questions and the corresponding methods and analyses typically used to address them. We coded these studies based on the dimensions of religiosity/spirituality and the youth outcomes involved. In some cases (quantitative studies of mediation and moderation, as well as qualitative studies) we also coded a third process variable. Results of the coding process revealed a number of interesting patterns. First, religiosity/spirituality is generally adaptive for adolescents, protecting them from negative outcomes (e.g., risk behaviors and mental illness), and promoting positive youth development and flourishing. Nevertheless, in some contexts, religiosity/spirituality may be at least partially maladaptive. Second, there is some evidence, from experimental and longitudinal studies, that relations between religiosity/spirituality and adaptive outcomes are causal. Third, there are numerous complex and dynamic processes by which religiosity/spirituality relate to youth outcomes. In terms of mediation studies, the most salient mediating processes seem to involve religiosity/spirituality dimensions, peers, values/attitudes, and social control/norms. Fourth, religiosity/spirituality is multidimensional, involving various interwoven facets at the individual and ecological levels. Private or personal aspects of religiosity/spirituality (e.g., religious/spiritual importance) tend to be more salient predictors of outcomes than public aspects of religiosity/spirituality (e.g., religious worship service attendance). The results of this systematic review point to promising directions for future research. First, more research is needed studying a broader range of dimensions of religiosity/spirituality, processes of influence, and outcomes. In terms of religiosity/spirituality, much of the prior work has focused on overall religiosity/spirituality, and religious/spiritual behaviors (e.g., worship service attendance). In terms of outcomes, the emphasis has been on religiosity/spirituality protecting against maladaptive outcomes (e.g., substance use). Second, more research is needed examining the role of culture, and using more rigorous methods (e.g., experience sampling, experimental design, longitudinal design, or mixed methods). This systematic review provides a detailed analysis of what is known regarding processes of religious/spiritual influence in the lives of adolescents, and hopefully better positions researchers to move the field forward.

Mental Health Status and Associated Contributing Factors among Gay Men in China

Chinese gay men are preferentially vulnerable to mental health problems because of deep-rooted, traditional social influence that overemphasizes heterosexual marriage, fertility, and filial piety. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2017 using the Chinese version of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) to assess the status of, and factors associated with the mental health of Chinese gay men. Unadjusted associations between demographic factors and the total score of SCL-90-R were examined using t/F tests or person correlation analysis. The main factors that were most predictive of the aggregate score of SCL-90-R were identified by multiple linear regressions. A total of 367 gay men participated in this survey with an average score of SCL-90-R of 180.78 ± 79.58. The scores of seven dimensions (OCS, INTS, DEPR, ANX, HOS, PHOA, PARI) for Chinese gay men were found to be significantly higher than the national norm (all p < 0.001). Age (B = −1.088, SE = 0.478, p = 0.023), educational level (B = −14.053, SE = 5.270, p = 0.008), and degree of coming out publicly (B = −23.750, SE = 4.690, p < 0.001) were protective factors for participants’ mental health status. A gay man who is the only child in his family was more likely to obtain a higher total score of SCL-90-R in China (B = 59.321, SE = 7.798, p < 0.001). Our study reveals the worrying mental health status of Chinese gay men. Shifts in familial, governmental, and societal normas are suggested to improve the current social acceptance towards sexual minority men, as well as to reduce detrimental health effects.

Prayer Attendance and General Health in the Iranian Adult Urban Population

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between prayer attendance and general health among adult urban population in Iran. A total of 470 males older than 17 years, chosen by multistage sampling, were investigated. The results showed that people who did not perform prayers compared to those who said prayers on time and performed Nafilahs (supererogatory prayers) were 2.87 (OR 2.87, 95 % CI 1.23-6.70, p = 0.015) times at risk of general health problems. In conclusion, the findings show that increasing the degree of people's belief in prayer can lead to improve general health.

Filling the void: spiritual development among adolescents of the affluent

Building on both the spiritual development and affluent youth literature, the current study explores spiritual development and health outcomes in a sample of upper-middle-class youth. Exploratory analyses indicate long-term stability in religiosity and spirituality from late adolescence (mean age 18) well into emerging adulthood (mean age 24); specifically, a strong personal relationship with a Higher Power, that carries into the broader arena of life, appears to be the primary source of spiritual life in adolescence that transitions into young adulthood. Moreover, cross-sectional associations at age 24 suggest spiritual development may have important implications for increased mental health and life satisfaction, as well as decreased antisocial behaviors.