Association between religiosity/spirituality and quality of life or depression among living-alone elderly in a South Korean city

Measuring population health and quality of life: Developing and testing of the significant quality of life measure (SigQOLM)

Quality of life (QOL) should ideally be determined by a broader spectrum of measurable parameters. This study aims to develop and validate a study instrument that is designed to determine a holistic measure of health and non-health aspects of QOL, and it is called the 'Significant Quality of Life Measure' (SigQOLM). This study involves five phases which aim to (i) explore and understand the subject matter content, (ii) develop a questionnaire, (iii) assess its content validity and face validity, (iv) conduct a pilot study, and lastly (v) perform a field-test by using the questionnaire. For the field-testing phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted which elicited responses from healthcare workers via a self-administered survey for all the SigQOLM items. Based on the results, the overall framework of the SigQOLM consists of four elements, 18 domains with 69 items. The element of "Health" is measured by nine domains, while "Relationships", "Functional activities, and "Survival" are measured by three domains respectively. The SigQOLM has been developed successfully and then validated with a high level of reliability, validity, and overall model fit. Therefore, the SigQOLM will provide researchers and policymakers another viable option to elicit a more comprehensive outcome measure of QOL which shall then enable them to implement specific interventions for improving the QOL of all the people, both healthy or otherwise.

"To fast or not to fast?" Ramadan and religiosity through the eyes of people with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study

Background

The month of Ramadan, due to its changes in social rhythms, can seriously affect the course of bipolar disorder (BD). Therefore, psychiatrists sometimes find it necessary to discourage Ramadan practices, especially fasting, although taking part in this practice can give a sense of belonging and accomplishment to patients. Research on this subject is limited.

Aim

The aim of the present work was to explore: (i) religious practices with special attention to Ramadan before and after the onset of BD, (ii) the perceptions and behaviors related to not fasting during Ramadan in patients with BD and their families' attitudes, (iii) religiosity and self-stigmatization and their relationships with religious practices, and (iv) the doctor-patient relationship around fasting.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study in clinically stabilized patients with BD in a public mental hospital and in a private psychiatric practice in Tunis, Tunisia. Socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as data related to general religious practices and Ramadan practices were collected using a self-established questionnaire. We assessed (i) religiosity of the patients with the Duke University Religion Index and (ii) self-stigma using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.

Results

Our sample consisted of 118 patients of whom 65.3% were fasting regularly before BD onset. More than half had stopped this practice following BD onset. Of the patients who did not fast, 16% felt guilty about this and 4.9% reported receiving negative remarks from their surroundings. High self-stigma scores were observed in 11% of the patients. Self-stigma was associated significantly with negative perception of not fasting, negative remarks regarding not fasting and taking both meals at regular times during Ramadan. The decision whether to fast or not was taken without seeking medical advice in 71.2% of the sample, and 16.9% of the sample reported that their psychiatrist had spontaneously approached the issue of Ramadan fasting.

Conclusion

Religiosity and more specifically the practice of Ramadan remains an important point that should be considered when treating patients with psychiatric problems. It seems necessary that healthcare professionals should integrate the positive and the negative side of fasting into their reflections. Our results remain exploratory and encourage further work on the subject.

Religious and secular spirituality: Methodological implications of definitions for health research

The importance of spirituality as a research topic has been increasingly recognized, which has led to several studies on the topic. Areas including psychology, medicine, and nursing have produced studies on spirituality under a plurality of definitions and methods, which reveals the complexity of the theme. However, this has resulted in a range of potential problems, including: (1) the use of overlapping and contradictory terms between studies, or even within the same study, (2) research methodologies that do not fit the definitions (sometimes unreflectively) assumed by the authors, (3) difficulties, or even the impossibility, of comparing the results of studies, (4) controversies in respect of the inclusion/exclusion of secular groups in research on spirituality, and (5) ambiguous measurements, often being exclusively dependent on each participant's individual interpretation of what spirituality means. This article discusses these problems, recommends theoretical and methodological alternatives and presents taxonomy of definitions of spirituality.

The role of religiosity and religious participation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment among older Indian adults

Due to different nature of social engagements of older adults in South Asian countries specially attributed to the traditional family-based care and support, beneficial effects of religiosity and religious involvement on mental health and cognitive function in older age might be different than those in the Western world. Yet, there is a paucity of research in these countries on the role of religion in moderating the relationship between late life depression and cognition. This study explored the association of depressive symptoms with cognitive impairment and the moderating effects of religiosity and religious participation in those associations among older Indian adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted on data that were drawn from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India wave-1, collected during 2017-2018. The sample size comprised of 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Shortened 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Items from the Mini-Mental State Examination and the cognitive module of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and the Mexican Health and Aging Study were adapted for measuring cognitive impairment. Moderated multiple linear regression models were used to test the research hypotheses of the study. The proportion of older adults who reported religion as less important to them was 21.24%, whereas, only 19.31% of the respondents participated in religious activities. The mean score of cognitive impairment (on a scale of 0-43) in the current sample was 19.43 [confidence interval (CI): 19.32-19.53] among men and 23.55 [CI: 23.44-23.66] among women. Older adults with depressive symptoms had significantly higher likelihood of cognitive impairment [aCoef: 0.18, CI: 0.16-0.20] in comparison to older adults with no depressive symptoms. Older individuals who were religious were significantly less likely to have cognitive impairment [aCoef: - 0.43, CI: - 0.61 to - 0.25] than their non-religious counterparts. Compared to older adults who did not participate in religious activities, those who participated in religious activities were less likely [aCoef: - 0.52, CI: - 0.69 to - 0.34] to have cognitive impairment. Further, significant moderating effects of religiosity and religious participation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment were observed. The current study contributes to advancing knowledge about the mental health benefits of religiosity and religious participation by focusing on older adults in India who culturally have limited chances to participate in social activities. The findings suggest that older adults with depressive symptoms may participate in religious activities which may reduce their chances of cognitive impairment. This protective effect of religiosity and religious participation on late life cognitive health has important implications for promoting alternative social support mechanisms for older adults in terms of enhancing their mental wellbeing and contributing to active aging.

Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Objectives

The present study investigated the association between religious and spiritual (RS) practices with the prevalence, severity, and incidence of mental health problems in older adults.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that investigated older adults aged 60+ years and assessed RS using valid scales and questions from valid scales, and mental health according to validated multidimensional or specific instruments. Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, LILACS, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and AgeLine databases until July 31, 2021. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). A pooled effect size was calculated based on the log odds ratio (OR) and Z-scores. This study is registered on PROSPERO.

Results

One hundred and two studies that investigated 79.918 community-dwellers, hospitalized, and institutionalized older adults were included. Results indicated that high RS was negatively associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, while a positive association was observed with life satisfaction, meaning in life, social relations, and psychological well-being. Specifically, people with high spirituality, intrinsic religiosity, and religious affiliation had a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. In relation to longitudinal analysis, most studies supported that high RS levels were associated with a lower incidence of depressive symptoms and fear of death, as well as better mental health status.

Conclusion

Findings of the present study suggest that RS are significantly associated with mental health in older adults. People with high RS levels had a lower prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as reported greater life satisfaction and psychological well-being, better social relations, and more definite meaning in life. Data provided by an increasing number of longitudinal studies have supported most of these findings.

Factor Structure of the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale in a Polish-Christian Sample

The current article presents the factor structure of the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) in a Polish-Christian sample. The DSES is a scale that attempts to measure a person’s perception of transcendent experiences in daily life. It covers the following constructs: awe, gratitude, mercy, a sense of connection with the transcendent, and compassionate love. Most validation studies on the DSES show the scale loadings on a single factor, although different populations can show different factor loadings. The study aims to verify the factor structure of the DSES results and to test the psychometric properties of its Polish version. The results of exploratory factor analysis conducted on a sample of 246 individuals and confirmatory factor analysis performed in a sample of 738 participants supported the single-factor model, which includes all 16 items of the DSES. Therefore, it was concluded that qualitatively different spiritual experiences have one common and integrated core with a homogeneous structure. Very high values of internal consistency measures indicate the excellent reliability of the Polish version of the DSES.

Use of Spirituality in the Treatment of Depression: Systematic Literature Review

Spirituality has been gaining recognition as a potential treatment modality. Our paper aimed to provide a systematic overview of existing research examining the use of spirituality as a treatment method for depression. All articles published between 2000 and 2018 that scientifically evaluated therapeutic interventions with elements of spirituality were included in the review. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Their analysis showed that there were elements of spirituality-based treatments that were repeatedly mentioned, including gratitude, forgiveness, self-acceptance, and compassion. Most often, spirituality was used together with psychotherapy. The review also noted the emergence of digital interventions.

Seeking and maintaining connections: A grounded theory study of maintaining spirituality in residential aged care facilities

BACKGROUND

Moving to a residential aged care facility involves living far from family and a familiar environment, and leaving behind the social support system of relatives, friends, and society. The pressure to find and develop new and meaningful connections in a residential aged care facility can be significant for older adults.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a theoretical explanation of how older adults seek and maintain connections in a residential aged care facility.

METHODS

A grounded theory study was conducted. A total of 17 residents were recruited from two Nepalese residential aged care facilities using theoretical sampling. Face to face in-depth, semi-structured interviews and observation within interviews were conducted. Data analysis included the process of open, axial, selective coding, and constant comparative analysis as per Corbin and Strauss' variant of grounded theory.

RESULTS

This study identified that the process of seeking connections in a residential aged care facility was forward-moving, and involved "identifying sources," "developing connections," and "appraising responses." By seeking connections, residents built new connections. Similarly, the study found that maintaining connections was a continuous process of "sustaining connections with co-residents," "preserving connections with nurses/caregivers," and "continuing connections with inner-self and higher being/s." Maintaining connections led residents to balance shifting connections. Furthermore, it was found that the process of seeking and maintaining connections was conditional on facility arrangement i.e. the way residents were placed, rules, regulations, co-residents' language, gender, religious affiliation, attitudes, the attitudes and practices of nurses/caregivers, decreasing physical abilities of residents, increasing illness of residents, illness or death of co-residents, and retirement or resignation of nurses/caregivers.

CONCLUSION

The current study provides unique insights into the process of seeking and maintaining connections in a residential aged care facility. Facility arrangement, rules, regulations, and caregiving practices should resonate with residents' socio-cultural expectations and spiritual belief system to support their process of seeking and maintaining connections.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The findings can be beneficial for managers, nurses, caregivers, and spiritual advisors in developing interventions that promote the development of meaningful connections in a residential aged care facility.

Psychosocial risk profiles among older adults living alone in South Korea: A latent profile analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the psychosocial risk profiles and various characteristics associated with profile membership among Korean older adults living alone.

METHODS

Our analyses were based on a cross-sectional cohort of 1030 community-dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years) living alone in one Korean city. Latent profile analysis was used to identify psychosocial risk profiles across a wide range of psychosocial dimensions (depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, cognitive dysfunction, loneliness, and perceived social support). We then explored the characteristics associated with distinct profiles by conducting bivariate and regression analyses.

RESULTS

The three-profile was selected as the best solution: a group with high cognitive dysfunction, high loneliness, and low social support (profile 1), a group with low psychological risks and high social support (profile 2), and a group with high depression and high suicidal ideation (profile 3). Regression analyses showed that a lower frequency of interaction with neighbors or families, a greater frailty score, and lower quality of life were significantly associated with profile 1 or profile 3 than with profile 2 (p < .05). Further, being male and having a poorer nutritional status was more significantly related to profile 3 than profile 2 (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide evidence for healthcare professionals when developing interventions to prevent and reduce these psychosocial risks for older individuals living alone. In particular, factors associated with profile membership identified in the study may facilitate more tailored interventions.

Quality of life and its association with psychiatric disorders in outpatients with trauma history in a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Quality of life is an important indicator of health and has multiple dimensions. It is adversely affected in patients with trauma history, and psychiatric disorders play an important role therein. Studies in trauma-affected populations focus mainly on the development of psychiatric disorders. Our study explored various aspects of quality of life in trauma patients in a clinical setting, mainly focusing on the association of psychiatric disorders on various domains of quality of life.

METHODS

One hundred patients seeking help at the psychiatry outpatient of a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, and with history of trauma were interviewed using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 2.1 for trauma categorization. Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms were assessed using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version; while the level of anxiety and depression symptoms was assessed using the 25-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25. Quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality Of Life-Brief Version measure. Information on sociodemographic and trauma-related variables was collected using a semi-structured interview schedule. The associations between psychiatric disorders and quality of life domains were explored using bivariate analyses followed by multiple regressions.

RESULTS

The mean scores (standard deviations) for overall quality of life and health status perception were 2.79 (.87) and 2.35 (1.11), respectively. The mean scores for the physical, psychological, social and environmental domains were 12.31 (2.96), 11.46 (2.84), 12.79 (2.89), and 13.36 (1.79), respectively. Natural disaster was the only trauma variable significantly associated with overall quality of life, but not with other domains. Anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were all significantly associated with various quality of life domains, where anxiety had the greatest number of associations.

CONCLUSION

Quality of life, overall and across domains, was affected in various ways based on the presence of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with trauma. Our findings therefore emphasize the need to address these disorders in a systematic way to improve the patients' quality of life.

Quality of Life Structural Equation Model for Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to propose and test a quality of life model among Korean patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using structural equation modeling.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was performed.

METHODS

Data from 184 patients with ALS were collected from two university hospitals in Seoul and Busan, South Korea, between June and December 2018.

FINDINGS

The modified model indices indicated adequate data fit. Quality of life predictors were social support, physical functional status, depression, and general health perception.

CONCLUSION

This study improved the understanding of quality of life for Korean patients with ALS, including complex direct and indirect relationships among quality of life factors.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Depression was identified as the most influential factor in this population; hence, early assessment and timely intervention for depression are essential for better quality of life in patients with ALS.

Childhood Trauma Is Associated with the Spirituality of Non-Religious Respondents

Childhood trauma experience (CT) is negatively associated with many aspects of adult life. Religiosity/spirituality (R/S) are often studied as positive coping strategies and could help in the therapeutic process. Evidence on this is lacking for a non-religious environment. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of different types of CT with R/S in the secular conditions of the Czech Republic. A nationally representative sample (n = 1800, mean age = 46.4, SD = 17.4; 48.7% male) of adults participated in the survey. We measured childhood trauma, spirituality, religiosity and conversion experience. We found that four kinds of CT were associated with increased levels of spirituality, with odds ratios (OR) ranging from 1.17 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.34) to 1.31 (1.18-1.46). Non-religious respondents were more likely to report associations of CT with spirituality. After measuring for different combinations of R/S, each CT was associated with increased chances of being "spiritual but non-religious", with OR from 1.55 (1.17-2.06) to 2.10 (1.63-2.70). Moreover, converts were more likely to report emotional abuse OR = 1.46 (1.17-1.82) or emotional neglect with OR = 1.42 (1.11-1.82). Our findings show CT is associated with higher levels of spirituality in non-religious respondents. Addressing spiritual needs may contribute to the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic treatment of the victims.

RELIGIOUSITY, SPIRITUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY ACCORDING TO STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the relationship of sociodemographic predictors, morbidities, depression indicative score, as well as the mediating role of religiosity, spirituality and personal beliefs about quality of life. Method: cross-sectional study conducted between March and July 2016, with 613 elderly, applying the instruments; Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, Brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults. In the data analysis, through Statistical Package for Social Sciences, absolute and relative frequency, measures of central tendency and variability and modeling with structural equations involving exogenous and endogenous latent constructs were used to highlight the mediating role of religiosity, spirituality and beliefs between the indicative of depression and quality of life (p≤0.005). Results: females, 60┤70 years old, married, with 4├7 years of schooling, income of one minimum wage, 6.16±3.70 morbidities and average of 3.84±3.01 for the indicative depression score prevailed. The highest score was for the connection with spiritual being or strength facet, Social Relations domain and Intimacy; Totality and integration facet, the Environment domain and the Death and dying facet had the lowest scores. There was a mediating function of religiosity, spirituality and personal beliefs, between the indicative depression score and the quality of life. Conclusion: it is necessary to invest in the practice of religiosity, spirituality and personal beliefs, as a health strategy, since they have shown an impact on the decrease of depression and a significant increase in quality of life.

Relational spirituality and quality of life 2007 to 2017: an integrative research review

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing number of evidence-based research on relational spirituality (RS) and quality of life (QoL) in medical-health research, little is known about the links between RS and QoL outcomes and the mechanisms by which RS aspects are functionally tied to QoL.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how RS is perceived/positioned in relation to QoL, we (a) examined recent available data that identify and appraise the links between RS and QoL; (b) identified themes emerging from the association between RS and QoL, and (c) discussed the implications of the effects of RS on QoL outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted an integrative research review of English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 to March 2017 which examined an association between RS and QoL, as identified from a search of three databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect.

RESULTS

A total of 20 studies were analysed. Of these, twelve (60%) reported positive association between RS and QoL, three (15%) studies reported inverse associations, whereas five (25%) studies showed evidence of lack of association (with two out of the five studies showing an indirect association). Physical health and psychological functioning were the most researched domains of QoL, and some studies suggest an attachment-based model of RS in the last 10 years of RS and QoL research. Studies conducted with participants with serious illnesses ranging from dementia, cardiac arrest, and breast cancer reported no association between RS and physical health. Our review shows evidence of both the direct and/or indirect effects of RS on QoL as a possible spiritual coping model for complementary alternative health therapy, albeit occurring through several religious-related psychosocial conduits.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION

RS appears to be associated with health benefits as indicated across QoL domains. General medical practitioners and other healthcare agencies could benefit from the understanding that a spiritual coping model could aid their patients, and therefore their clinical practices, in the healing process.

Validation of the Persian version of the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) in Pregnant Women: A Proper Tool to Assess Spirituality Related to Mental Health

Assessing spirituality in healthy pregnant women may lead to supportive interventions that will improve their care. A psychometrically valid measure such as the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) may be helpful in this regard. The current study sought to adapt a Persian version of DSES for use in pregnancy. A total of 377 pregnant women were recruited from three general hospitals located in Tehran, Iran. Administered scales were the DSES, Duke University Religion Index, Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, as well as demographic measures. Reliability of the DSES was tested using Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest stability. Scale validity was assessed by criterion-related tests, known-groups comparison, and exploratory factor analysis. Participant's mean age was 27.7 (4.1), and most were nulliparous (70%). The correlation coefficient between individual items on the scale and the total score was greater than 0.30 in most cases. Cronbach's alpha for the scale was 0.90. The ICC for 2-week test-retest reliability was high (0.86). Relationships between similar and dissimilar scales indicated acceptable convergent and divergent validity. The factor structure of the scale indicated a single factor that explained 59% of the variance. The DSES was found to be a reliable and valid measure of spirituality in pregnant Iranian women. This scale may be used to examine the relationship between spirituality and health outcomes, research that may lead to supportive interventions in this population.

Factors related to quality of life among older adults in Bangladesh: A cross sectional survey

This cross-sectional design study aimed to describe quality of life and examine factors related to quality of life among older adults in Bangladesh. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 280 older adults from ten villages in two southern districts. The results demonstrate that the majority of the participants reported an overall moderate score of quality of life. Moreover, participants' sleep problems, depression, religiosity, and activities of daily living were negatively correlated with quality of life whereas social support and health service availability were positively correlated with quality of life. Implementing intervention programs upon the significant related factors to improve older adults' quality of life is recommended.

Quality-of-life and spirituality

Spirituality has been identified as an important dimension of quality-of-life. The objective of this study was to review the literature on quality-of-life and spirituality, their association, and assessment tools. A search was conducted of the keyterms 'quality-of-life' and 'spirituality' in abstract or title in the databases PsycINFO and PubMed/Medline between 1979-2005, complemented by a new search at PUBMED from 2006-2016. Quality-of-life is a new concept, which encompasses and transcends the concept of health, being composed of multiple domains: physical, psychological, environmental, among others. The missing measure in health has been defined as the individual's perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value system in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. There is consistent evidence of an association between quality-of-life and religiosity/spirituality (R/S), through studies with reasonable methodological rigour, using several variables to assess R/S (e.g. religious affiliation, religious coping, and prayer/spirituality). There are also several valid and reliable instruments to evaluate quality-of-life and spirituality. Further studies are needed, however, especially in Brazil. Such studies will provide empirical data to be used in planning health interventions based on spirituality, seeking a better quality-of-life. In the last 10 years, research is consistently growing about quality-of-life and spirituality in many countries, and also in many areas of health research.

Effects of religiosity and spirituality on the treatment response in patients with depressive disorders

BACKGROUND

Few studies have investigated the roles of religiosity and spirituality in predicting treatment response among psychiatric patients with depressive disorders.

METHODS

In total, 232 outpatients with depressive disorders completed measurements of psychological symptoms, religiosity, and spirituality at baseline. A response was defined as Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale (CGI-I) score of 1 or 2 at the last visit during a 6-month treatment period. Univariate analyses and logistic regression analysis were used to identify predictors of treatment response.

RESULTS

In univariate analyses, treatment response was associated with marital status, longer treatment duration, less severe baseline symptoms, higher personal importance of religion, and higher spirituality. In logistic regression analysis, subjective important considerations for religion and spirituality were significantly related with treatment response after controlling for marital status, treatment duration, and baseline symptom severity. Of these variables, spirituality remained a significant predictor in the final model.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that higher spirituality may independently contribute to favorable treatment responses among depressed patients in addition to other demographic and clinical factors.

Religious involvement, suicidal ideation and behavior in mainland China

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about relations between religious involvement and suicidal behaviors in mainland China. This study aims to examine the association between religious involvement and suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts within a general community population controlling for socio-demographic, physical, and mental health factors.

METHOD

Data were examined from a population-based sample of 2,769 community-dwelling adults in the province of Ningxia China, where nearly 40% are Muslim, 11% other religious affiliations, and 49% no religion. Four separate logistic regression models examined correlations between religious involvement and self-reported suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. Analyses were also stratified by Muslim affiliation (n = 1103) and no religion (n = 1,366).

RESULTS

Bivariate analyses in the overall sample demonstrated that higher personal religiosity scores (χ(2) = 6.8, p < 0.01) and total religiosity scores (χ(2) = 5.1, p < 0.05) were positively correlated with developing a suicidal plan, which disappeared after controlling for demographic characteristics. Otherwise, no significant correlations were found between any religious characteristic and suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt in either Muslims or those with no religion.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to most previous studies, religious involvement plays less of a role in suicidal behaviors in at least one province of mainland China.

Investigação das propriedades psicométricas do Duke Religious Index no âmbito da pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva

A religiosidade é uma variável importante para a pesquisa em saúde, considerando suas conhecidas associações com o processo saúde-doença e questões importantes sobre o bem-estar, atitudes, práticas e satisfação em relação a cuidados e serviços. No entanto, na pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva, é frequentemente usada a afiliação religiosa como única dimensão da religiosidade. O presente estudo objetivou investigar a adequação do uso do instrumento Duke Religious Index (DUREL) no âmbito da pesquisa em Saúde Coletiva, ao avaliar as capacidades psicométricas do instrumento quando aplicado a uma população representativa de usuários dos serviços de atenção primária à saúde de um município de porte médio do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Foi encontrada uma adequada consistência interna para o instrumento e validade convergente-discriminante. Os resultados sugerem que o uso do DUREL não é restrito à pesquisa em saúde mental e que sua utilização pode trazer novas perspectivas para o entendimento de eventos de interesse na área da Saúde Coletiva.

Psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the Duke University Religion Index in college students and community residents in China

A Chinese version of the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) was developed and the psychometric properties were assessed. The study was conducted in two separate samples of 1,285 college students and 2,564 community residents. To assess test-retest reliability, the DUREL was re-administered after 1 wk. to 105 college students and 199 community residents. In both samples, three factors were extracted using principal components factor analysis with Promax rotation, which is consistent with the scale content. Internal consistency reliability was acceptable. Test-retest ICCs ranged from .45 to .89 in college students and .75 to .93 in community residents. The Chinese version of the DUREL is a useful measure of religiosity in Mandarin-speaking populations.