Thank you Ronnn! Religion is a crutch. Surprise!!! On Fri, 27 Jun 2003 21:53:22 -0500, Ronn!Blankenship wrote: ><<http://byunews.byu.edu/releases/release.aspx?y=archive03&m=Jun&f=re >ligdepress>> > >Contact: Grant Madsen >(801) 422-9206 > > >Religiousness associated with less depression, says BYU/U. of Miami >study > >PROVO, Utah (June 17, 2003)-A new study by Brigham Young University >researchers reveals that greater religiousness is associated with >fewer >symptoms of depression, with religiousness defined broadly as any >attitude, >belief or behavior involving spiritual or religious content. > >"The findings suggest that religiousness may provide certain types >of >religious people with a buffer against depression," says Timothy >Smith, a >BYU associate professor of counseling psychology and lead researcher >on the >study. Joining Smith are Michael E. McCullough, an associate >professor of >psychology at the University of Miami, and Justin Pole, a BYU >graduate student. > >Published in the latest issue of the American Psychology >Association's >"Psychological Bulletin," the research is an analysis of 147 >previous >studies that examined religiousness and depression. The results were >similar across gender, age or ethnicity and apply regardless of >religious >denomination. Religiousness was defined broadly as any attitude, >belief, >motivation, pursuit or behavior involving spiritual or religious >content or >processes. > >Ken Pargament, a professor of psychology at Bowling Green State >University >and author of "The Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, >Research, >Practice," says the study adds to the growing understanding of the >mental >health benefits of religion. > >"This is a sophisticated, up-to-date, balanced approach to the study >of >religion and one critical dimension of mental health," says >Pargament. >"Furthermore, it moves the field forward by identifying specific >forms of >religion that are tied to both increases and decreases to the risk >of >depression. These findings underscore what is common sense to most >people >-- religion contributes to health and well being. Now we are >beginning to >learn how and why." > >Other findings revolved around the distinction between what the >researchers >called intrinsically and extrinsically motivated religiousness. >Intrinsic >motivation means practicing religion for religion's sake -- praying, >meditating and serving because of a sincere belief that doing so is >correct. Extrinsically motivated people practice religion for social >reasons -- they see church as a chance to build non-faith-based >social >networks or think, "This is what religion can do for me." > >The study found that those who practice religion based on extrinsic >motivations or who engage in negative religious coping, like blaming >God >for difficulties, are associated with higher levels of symptoms of >depression. > >For those undergoing stressful life events, the researchers found >that the >buffer against depression is even stronger. > >"One would think, 'The greater the stress, the greater the >depression,'" >says Smith. "But that's not necessarily the case for the >intrinsically >motivated religious person. Possible explanations for this include >the idea >that stress may prompt people to turn to religion, to become >stronger in >their faith in the face of trials. They are turning to God, pleading >for >help, seeking counsel from scriptures or pastors." > >Some of the reasons that those who are religious for intrinsic >reasons may >enjoy a buffer against depressive symptoms and stress include the >traditional use of less alcohol and drugs, belief in spiritual >intervention >and support and belief in an afterlife. > >"Take the example of death. Some religions teach doctrines about an >afterlife that may provide a coping mechanism that relieves stress," >says >Smith. "If people truly believe in those teachings and hold to them >during >times of stress, they can get through the ordeal with less trauma >than the >non-religious or externally motivated religious person." > >Additionally, religion tends to teach principles of altruism, which >research has shown to be a buffer against depression, says Smith. >Self-focus, on the other hand, has been shown to be a factor that >tends to >increase feelings of depression. > >The project was supported by grants from the John Templeton >Foundation, the >Campaign for Forgiveness Research, TP Industrials Inc., and the >Religious >Research Association. > > >_______________________________________________ >http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
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