Divinity and Distress: The Impact of Religion and Spirituality on the Mental Health of HIV-Positive Adults in Tanzania

Steglitz, Jeremy; Ng, Reuben; Mosha, John S.; Kershaw, Trace

doi:10.1007/s10461-012-0261-7

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…A stress-coping framework was also used in a study examining the role of spirituality/religion in mental health among PLWH in Tanzania [39]. A structural equation model (SEM) was tested hypothesizing mediating effects of active coping, avoidant coping, and social support in the relationship of spirituality/religion to depression, anxiety, and stress with religiosity and spirituality treated as distinct factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spirituality and Religion among HIV-Infected Individuals

Szaflarski

2013

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep

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Spirituality and religion are important to many people living with HIV (PLWH). Recent research has focused on special populations (ethnic-minorities, women, and youth), spirituality/religion measurement, mediating/moderating mechanisms, and individual and community-level interventions. Spirituality/religion in PLWH has been refined as a multidimensional phenomenon which improves health/quality of life directly and through mediating factors (healthy behaviors, optimism, social support). Spirituality/religion helps people to cope with stressors, especially stigma/discrimination. Spiritual interventions utilizing the power of prayer and meditation and addressing spiritual struggle are under way. Faith-based community interventions have focused on stigma and could improve individual outcomes through access to spiritual/social support and care/treatment for PLWA. Community engagement is necessary to design/implement effective and sustainable programs. Future efforts should focus on vulnerable populations; utilize state-of the art methods (randomized clinical trials, community-based participatory research); and, address population-specific interventions at individual and community levels. Clinical and policy implications across geographic settings also need attention.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spirituality and Religion among HIV-Infected Individuals

Szaflarski

2013

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep

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“…In Tanzania, religion is an important aspect of culture and life, and studies suggest that Tanzanians rely on religion to cope with adverse medical events (Steglitz, Ng, Mosha, & Kershaw, 2012; Watt, Maman, Jacobson, Laiser, & John, 2009; Zou et al, 2009). The small body of research on religious coping in Tanzania focuses almost exclusively on coping with HIV infection and focuses primarily on positive religious coping strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious coping among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania

Watt

Wilson

Joseph

et al. 2014

Global Public Health

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Religion is an important aspect of Tanzanian culture, and is often used to cope with adversity and distress. This study aimed to examine religious coping among women with obstetric fistulae. Fifty-four women receiving fistula repair at a Tanzanian hospital completed a structured survey. RCOPE assessed positive and negative religious coping strategies. Analyses included associations between negative religious coping and key variables (demographics, religiosity, depression, social support and stigma). Forty-five women also completed individual in-depth interviews where religion was discussed. Although participants utilised positive religious coping strategies more frequently than negative strategies (p<.001), 76% reported at least one form of negative religious coping. In univariate analysis, negative religious coping was associated with stigma, depression and low social support. In multivariate analysis, only depression remained significant, explaining 42% of the variance in coping. Qualitative data confirmed reliance upon religion to deal with fistula-related distress, and suggested that negative forms of religious coping may be an expression of depressive symptoms. Results suggest that negative religious coping could reflect cognitive distortions and negative emotionality, characteristic of depression. Religious leaders should be engaged to recognise signs of depression and provide appropriate pastoral/spiritual counseling and general psychosocial support for this population.

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“…This finding suggests that further work is needed to clarify the relationship between these factors in other cultures and contexts. With regard to religious affiliation, most studies of religion and mental health in developing nations have focused on adult samples, and suggest that religious beliefs may reduce risk of mental illness (Sipsma et al, 2013), likely through increasing positive coping and social support (Steglitz et al, 2012). However, very little attention has been given to this topic among youth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caretaker mental health and family environment factors are associated with adolescent psychiatric problems in a Vietnamese sample

Stratton

Edwards

Overstreet

et al. 2014

Psychiatry Research

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Little is known about risk factors for adolescent mental health in Vietnam. The present study investigated the relationship between caretaker mental health and adolescent mental health in a cross-sectional Vietnamese sample. Primary caretakers completed measures of their own mental distress and general health status using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) as well as reports of adolescent mental health using the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Multivariate regression models were used to examine the relationships between the caretaker and adolescent health variables. The demographic factors of age, sex, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and household wealth status demonstrated significant relationships with SDQ subscale scores. Caretaker mental health was positively associated with adolescent mental health, and this association remained significant even after accounting for other relevant demographic variables and caretaker general health status. Understanding correlates of adolescent mental health difficulties may help identify youth and families at risk for developing psychiatric problems and inform mental health interventions in Vietnam.

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Divinity and Distress: The Impact of Religion and Spirituality on the Mental Health of HIV-Positive Adults in Tanzania

Cited by 34 publications

References 39 publications

Spirituality and Religion among HIV-Infected Individuals

Spirituality and Religion among HIV-Infected Individuals

Religious coping among women with obstetric fistula in Tanzania

Caretaker mental health and family environment factors are associated with adolescent psychiatric problems in a Vietnamese sample

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