Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of People with Serious Mental Illness

  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although there is a fair sized literature documenting the relationship of religiousness and spirituality with health and well-being, far fewer studies have examined this phenomenon for people with serious mental illness. In this research, religiousness is defined as participation in an institutionalized doctrine while spirituality is framed as an individual pursuit of meaning outside the world of immediate experience. In this study, 1,824 people with serious mental illness completed self-report measures of religiousness and spirituality. They also completed measures of three health outcome domains: self-perceived well-being, psychiatric symptoms, and life goal achievement. Results showed that both religiousness and spirituality were significantly associated with proxies of well being and symptoms, but not of goal achievement. Implications of these findings for enhancing the lives of people with psychiatric disability are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Brewerton, T.D. (1994). Hyperreligiosity in psychotic disorders. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 182, 302-304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J., Johnsen, M., et al. (submitted for publication). The consumer operated services program multisite research initiative: An exploration of scientific and organizational issues. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Clay, S. (1990). Spirituality and Madness. Newsletter of the Center for Conscious Evolution.

  • Corrigan, P.W., Calabrese, J.D., Diwan, S.E., et al. (2002). Some recovery processes in mutualhelp groups for persons with mental illness; I: Qualitative analysis of program materials and testimonies. Community Mental Health Journal, 38, 287-301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P.W., Faber, D., Rashid, F., et al. (1999) The construct validity of empowerment among consumers of mental health services. Schizophrenia Research, 38, 77-84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P.W., Giffort, D., Rashid, F., et al. (1999). Recovery as a psychological construct. Community Mental Health Journal, 35, 231-239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, L., & Chinman, M. (1999). Peer support among individuals with severe mental illness: A review of the evidence. Clinical Psychology-Science & Practice, 6, 165-187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L.R., et al. (1974). The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL): A self-report symptom inventory. Behavioral Science, 19, 1-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drake, R.E., Osher, F.C., & Wallach, M.A. (1991) Homelessness and dual diagnosis. American Psychologist, 46, 1149-1158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisen, S.V., Shaul, J.A., Leff, H., et al. (2001). Toward a national consumer survey: Evaluation of the CABHS and MHSIP instruments. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 28, 347-369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallup, G. (1994). The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion 1993. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallup, G., & Castelli, J. (1989). The people's religion. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gartner, J.D. (1996). Religious commitment, mental health, and prosocial behavior: A review of the empirical literature. In Religion and the Clinical Practice of Psychology, edited by E. Shafranske, 187-214. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz, G.E., Fleck, D.E., & Strakowski, S.M. (2001). Frequency and severity of religious delusions in Christian patients with psychosis. Psychiatry Research, 103, 87-91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorsuch, R.L. (1995). Religious aspects of substance abuse and recovery. Journal of Social Issues, 51, 65-83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorsuch, R.L., & Butler, M.C. (1976). Initial drug abuse: A review of predisposing social psychological factors. Psychological Bulletin, 83, 120-137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herth, K. (1991). Development and refinement of an instrument to measure hope. Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice, 5, 39-51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herth, K. (1993). Hope in Older Adults in Community and Institutional Settings. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 14, 139-156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, P.C., Pargament, K.I., Hood, R.W., et al. (2000). Conceptualizing religion and spirituality: Points of commonality, points of departure. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 30, 51-77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, E.L. (1993). Self-directed rehabilitation. Empowerment, A newsletter of the mental health empowerment project. Special edition.

  • Koenig, H.G., Pargament, K.I., & Nielsen, J. (1998). Religious coping and health status in medically ill hospitalized older adults. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 186, 513-521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A.F. (1983a). The effects of psychiatric symptoms on quality of life assessments among the chronic mentally ill. Evaluation & Program Planning, 6, 143-151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A.F. (1983b). The well being of chronic mental patients: Assessing their quality of life. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 369-373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A.F. (1988). A Quality of life interview for the chronically mentally ill. Evaluation & Program Planning, 11, 51-62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundin, R.K. (1997). Mental Illness & Spirituality: A personal view. Journal of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 8, 46-48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K.I. & Wells, E.A. (1990). Religion as a community resource for well-being: Prevention, healing, and empowerment pathways. Journal of Social Issues, 51, 177-193.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, A., et al. (1985). New data from the Addiction Severity Index: Reliability and validity in three centers. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 173, 412-423.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, A., Kushner, H., Metzger, D., et al. (1992). The fifth edition of the Addiction Severity Index. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 9, 199-213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K.I., Kennell, J., Hathaway, W., et al. (1988). Religion and the problem-solving process: Three styles of coping. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 27, 90-104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargamenat, K. I., & Park, C. L. (1997). In times of stress: The religion-coping connestion. In B. Spilka & D. N. McIntosh (Eds.), The Psychology of Religion: Theoretical Approaches (pp. 43-53). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poloma, M.M., & Pendleton, B.F. (1989). Religious experiences, evangelism, and institutional growth within the Assemblies of God. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 28, 415-431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralph, R.O., & Kidder, K.A. (2000). Recovery. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 4, 480-517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E., Chamberlin, J., Ellison, M.L., et al. (1997). A consumer-constructed scale to measure empowerment among users of mental health services. Psychiatric Services, 48, 1042-1047.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudnick, A., & Kravetz, S. (2001). The relation of social support-seeking to quality of life in schizophrenia. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 189, 258-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salyers, M., McHugo, G.J., Cook, J.A., et al. (2001) Reliability of instruments in a cooperative, multisite study: Employment intervention demonstration program. Mental Health Services Research, 3, 129-139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumaker, J.F. (Ed.) (1992). Religion and mental health. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheldrake, P. (1992). Spirituality and history: Questions of interpretation and method. New York: Crossroads.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, J.J., & Bullis, R.K. (1992). Practitioners' personal and professional attitudes and behaviors toward religion and spirituality: Issues for education and practice. Journal for Social Work Education, 28, 190-203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B.W., Pargament, K.I., Brant, C., et al. (2000). Noah revisited: Religious coping by church members and the impact of the 1993 Midwest flood. Journal of Community Psychology, 28, 169-186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, P., & Draine, J. (2001). The State of knowledge of the effectiveness of consumer provided services. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 25, 20-27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wulff, D.M. (1997). Psychology of religion: Classic and contemporary (2nd ed. Vol xxi). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, M.A., & Rappaport, J. (1988). Citizen participation, perceived control, and psychological empowerment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 725-750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B.J., Pargament, K.I., Cole, B., et al. (1997). Religion and spirituality: Unfuzzying the fuzzy. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36, 549-564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B.J., Pargament, K.I., & Scott, A.B. (1999). The emerging meanings of religiousness and spirituality: Problems and prospects. Journal of Personality, 67, 889-919.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 7230 Arbor Drive, Tinley Park, IL, 60477, USA

    Patrick Corrigan

  2. Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, USA

    Brian McCorkle

  3. Mental Health Client Action Network, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

    Bonnie Schell

  4. University of Southern Maine, USA

    Kathryn Kidder

Authors
  1. Patrick Corrigan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian McCorkle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bonnie Schell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kathryn Kidder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick Corrigan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Corrigan, P., McCorkle, B., Schell, B. et al. Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of People with Serious Mental Illness. Community Ment Health J 39, 487–499 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COMH.0000003010.44413.37

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:COMH.0000003010.44413.37

Search

Navigation