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Psychotic experiences and religiosity: data from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Author(s) -
KovessMasfety V.,
Saha S.,
Lim C. C. W.,
AguilarGaxiola S.,
AlHamzawi A.,
Alonso J.,
Borges G.,
Girolamo G.,
Jonge P.,
Demyttenaere K.,
Florescu S.,
Haro J. M.,
Hu C.,
Karam E. G.,
Kawakami N.,
Lee S.,
Lepine J. P.,
NavarroMateu F.,
Stagnaro J. C.,
Have M.,
Viana M. C.,
Kessler R. C.,
McGrath J. J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12859
Subject(s) - religiosity , odds , odds ratio , psychology , logistic regression , mental health , clinical psychology , association (psychology) , demography , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , sociology , psychotherapist
Objectives Religiosity is often associated with better health outcomes. The aim of the study was to examine associations between psychotic experiences ( PE s) and religiosity in a large, cross‐national sample. Methods A total of 25 542 adult respondents across 18 countries from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys were assessed for PE s, religious affiliation and indices of religiosity, DSM ‐ IV mental disorders and general medical conditions. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between PE s and religiosity with various adjustments. Results Of 25 542 included respondents, 85.6% ( SE = 0.3) ( n = 21 860) respondents reported having a religious affiliation. Overall, there was no association between religious affiliation status and PE s. Within the subgroup having a religious affiliation, four of five indices of religiosity were significantly associated with increased odds of PE s (odds ratios ranged from 1.3 to 1.9). The findings persisted after adjustments for mental disorders and/or general medical conditions, as well as religious denomination type. There was a significant association between increased religiosity and reporting more types of PE s. Conclusions Among individuals with religious affiliations, those who reported more religiosity on four of five indices had increased odds of PE s. Focussed and more qualitative research will be required to unravel the interrelationship between religiosity and PE s.