Well-Being
Research has discovered that through most religious or spiritual involvements there is a positive correlation between religiosity or spirituality and well-being (Koenig, 1995a; Levin, 1997). These establishments provide an environment that fosters prosocial and adaptive qualities, which increase positive mood and decrease stress (Donahue & Benson, 1995). Most religious or spiritual institutions serve as a support system for young adults and families, socially and emotionally. Religious or spiritual organizations offer individuals a sense of connectedness (Blaine & Croker, 1995), which has a positive effect on self-esteem and outlook on life.
According to research, teenagers who have religious or spiritual affiliations are less likely of suicide ideation, suicide attempts, alcohol use, and sexual involvement, while being more likely to be involved in volunteer work (Varon & Riley, 1999). Research has also shown that those living through traumatic experiences have discovered that coping though a religious framework has been beneficial (Plante, Saucedo, & Rice, 2001). Miller and Thoresen (1999) has discovered “increasing spiritual and/or religious integration in psychotherapy has improved treatment outcome for religious clients.”
Depression
Research proposes that religiosity and spirituality are linked with reducing levels of depression on a general scale (Captipovic, Ilakovac, Durjancek, & Amidzc, 1995; Cosar, Kocal, Arikan, & Isik; Plante & Boccaccini, 1997). On the other hand, based on other studies, there is not a clear correlation between religious involvement and depression (Koenig et al., 1997). Research that studies the association between depression and religion has been placed into three classifications: religiosity as susceptibility to depression, religion as a coping mechanism for dealing with depression, and the