evidence

Religious and Spiritual Factors in Depression: Review and Integration of the Research - PMC

19 empirical findings extracted from peer-reviewed research.

Source

Religious and Spiritual Factors in Depression: Review and Integration of the Research - PMC

View original source | 7293 words | 19 findings extracted

Key Findings

  • A total of 444 quantitative studies have examined the relationship between R/S and depression or the effects of R/S intervention on depression between 1962 and 2010.

    • 444 [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 30 clinical trials, 63% found inverse relationships between R/S and depression, or improvement.

    • 63% (N=30) [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 414 observational studies included in the systematic review, 62% found inverse relationships between R/S and depression, or improvement.

    • 62% (N=414) [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 70 prospective observational studies, 56% found inverse relationships between R/S and depression, or improvement.

    • 56% (N=70) [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 444 total studies, 28 studies (6%) found greater depression in relation to R/S involvement.

    • 6% (N=444) [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 444 total studies, 272 (61%) found less depression, faster recovery from depression, or a reduction in depressive symptoms in response to an R/S intervention.

    • 61% (N=444) [2011]
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Of the 178 most methodologically rigorous studies, 119 (67%) find inverse relationships between R/S and depression.

    • 67% (N=178)
    • 🟢 Irrefutable | systematic-review

  • Worldwide, over 1 million lives are lost to suicide annually.

    • 1 million+
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • Atheists make up less than 0.1% of the populations in 100 countries based on World Christian Database information.

    • <0.1%
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • A survey of developed countries by Angus Reid Strategies found that 48% of respondents said religion is a 'very important' component of their daily lives.

    • 48% (N=5.8K)
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | survey

  • The 12-month prevalence of severe depression in the United States is 2.0%.

    • 2.0%
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • In the United States, 19% of Americans said religion is not important as of late 2011.

    • 19% [2011]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | survey

  • The 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder is 6.7% in the United States.

    • 6.7%
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • In the United States, 26% of Americans said religion is fairly important as of late 2011.

    • 26% [2011]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | survey

  • Atheists make up less than 0.01% of the populations of 24 countries based on World Christian Database information.

    • <0.01%
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • In a World Gallup Poll of 143 countries, 92 percent of people in 32 developing countries indicated religion was an important part of daily life.

    • 92% (N=140.0K)
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | survey

  • In the USA, depression costs over $65 billion per year.

    • $65 billion+
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • Atheists make up more than 5% of the population in only 9 countries based on World Christian Database information.

    • 5%

    • 🟡 Strong Signal | government-data

  • In the United States, 55% of Americans indicated that religion is very important in their lives as of late 2011.

    • 55% [2011]
    • 🟡 Strong Signal | survey

Confidence Summary

Tier Count Description
🟢 Irrefutable 7 Meta-analyses, large RCTs, Cochrane reviews
🟡 Strong Signal 12 Multiple studies, large surveys
🟠 Hypothesis 0 Single study, small N, preliminary