The Role of Religiosity and Spirituality in Protecting Mental Health

Abstract

Mental health represents one of the major challenges of contemporary public health due to the high prevalence of mental disorders and their impact on quality of life, functionality, and individual well-being. In this context, religiosity and spirituality have attracted increasing scientific interest because of their potential role in promoting mental health and preventing psychological distress. To analyze the available scientific evidence regarding the influence of religiosity and spirituality as protective factors for mental health. This systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed in scientific databases using descriptors related to religiosity, spirituality, and mental health. Initially, 39 studies were identified, of which 8 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final sample. The analyzed studies demonstrated a predominantly positive association between religiosity, spirituality, and mental health. The main benefits observed included reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, strengthening of psychological resilience, improvement of coping strategies in adverse situations, enhancement of quality of life, and greater subjective well-being. Furthermore, religiosity was associated with stronger social support networks and greater existential meaning-making in experiences of suffering. However, some studies showed that spiritual struggles, dysfunctional beliefs, and negative religious coping strategies may be associated with poorer psychological outcomes. Religiosity and spirituality appear to act as important protective factors for mental health, contributing to the prevention and management of mental disorders. Despite the favorable findings observed in most studies, the complexity of this relationship and the influence of individual factors highlight the need for further research to better understand the underlying mechanisms and expand the application of this knowledge in clinical practice.