Impulsivity, suicidal thoughts, psychological distress, and religiosity in adolescents and young adults.

Background: Impulsivity is associated with suicidal acts and ideation, whereas higher religious commitment has been identified as a potential protective factor linked to lower suicidal ideation. Objectives: We examined the extent to which higher religious commitment is associated with lower suicidal ideation and whether religious commitment modifies the relationship between impulsivity and suicidal ideation. Methods: Adolescent and young adult males, with a prior history of suicidal act and ideations, completed standardized questionnaires [i.e., Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-II (BIS-II), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), and Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10)], to assess impulsivity, suicidal ideation, distress, and religious commitment. Regression and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the relationships among impulsivity, religious commitment, and suicidal ideation. Results: Of the 747 study participants (mean age 18.8 years, SD = 4.1), 151 (20.2%) had a history of suicidal acts and 177 (23.7%) had a history of suicidal ideation. Non-planning impulsivity (predictor) was inversely associated with religious commitment (r = -0.33, p < 0.01), and religious commitment (mediator) was inversely related to suicidal ideation (outcome) (r = -0.32, p < 0.01). These findings remained statistically significant when controlling for either religious commitment or non-planning impulsivity, as appropriate. Higher religious commitment reduced the association between non-planning impulsivity and suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential for cultivating spirituality to buffer against higher suicidal ideation, and thus could be considered as an additional therapeutic strategy for individuals with higher levels of impulsivity and co-morbid suicidal ideation.

Eudaimonic Well-Being for Lesbian and Bisexual Women: The Roles of Religion and Social Connectedness.

Understanding how religion and well-being are related for lesbian and bisexual women provides important context for clinical interventions. Current literature in the field diverges on whether the relationship between religious commitment and well-being is positive for those in the queer community. The current study examines whether an independent or interdependent self-construal explains the relationship between religious commitment and eudaimonic well-being (EWB) for lesbian and bisexual women. This empirical study used data from the Multi-Site University Study on Identity and Culture, a research collaboration amongst 30 colleges and universities in the United States. Findings suggest that although self-construal does not mediate the relationship between religious commitment and well-being, there are significant effects between religious commitment and EWB as well as an independent self-construal and EWB. These findings provide a deeper understanding of variables associated with greater well-being and are important for the advancement of research and practice with queer women.

Investigating relationship between religious commitment and moral sensitivity in nurses working in ICU.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at determining the relationship between religious commitment and moral sensitivity among nurses working in the ICU sections in the west of Iran. The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study carried out on nurses working in ICU wards of two western cities in Iran. The instrument used includes a demographic questionnaire, religious commitment questionnaire and moral sensitivity questionnaire in nurses. First, the researchers referred to the ICU wards of the hospitals in the cities after receiving permission from the relevant authorities by referring to three shifts in the morning, evening and night shifts and holidays. The researchers, while explaining the research goals for the nurses participating in the study, obtained their informed consent to participate in this study. RESULTS: According to the findings, mean (SD) of the overall score of religious commitment was equal to 36.38 (4.58) and mean (SD) of MS score of nurses was 59.21 (12.65). Also, 91 nurses (82.7%) had average MS, 7 (6.4%) had low MS and 12 (10.9%) had high MS.

Roles of Religious Commitment, Emotion Regulation and Social Support in Preoperative Anxiety.

Surgery is a relatively commonplace medical procedure in healthcare settings. The mental health status of the person undergoing surgery is vital, but there is dearth of empirical studies on the mental health status of surgery patients, particularly with regard to the factors associated with anxiety in surgical conditions. This study investigated the roles of religious commitment, emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and social support in preoperative anxiety in a sample of 210 surgical inpatients from a Nigerian tertiary healthcare institution. A cross-sectional design was adopted. Before the surgery, respondents completed the state anxiety subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Religious Commitment Inventory, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. After controlling for relevant demographic factors, regression results showed that cognitive reappraisal, social support and interpersonal religious commitment were negatively associated with preoperative anxiety, while expressive suppression was positively associated with preoperative anxiety. The emotion regulation strategies made robust and significant explanation of variance in preoperative anxiety. Appropriate interventions to promote interpersonal religious commitment, encourage cognitive reappraisal and enhance social support quality may improve mental health outcomes in surgery.

Religious Commitment and Well-Being in College Students: Examining Conditional Indirect Effects of Meaning in Life.

There is systematic and quantitative evidence that religious commitment is associated with indicators of well-being, such as positive emotions and moods, absence of negative emotions, and satisfaction with life; however, researchers remain far from a consensus regarding which mechanisms may account for these observed relationships. Although religious commitment influences well-being through many different mechanisms, meaning in life is probably the predominant one. Thus, we examined the bidimensional conceptualization of meaning in life as a potential mechanism between religious commitment and well-being. The study was cross-sectional in nature. Survey data were collected from 92 college students, aged 17-21. A battery of self-report measures was used for tapping religious commitment, well-being, and meaning in life. Even though presence of meaning, search for meaning, religious commitment, and well-being correlated moderately with each other, presence of meaning carried a substantial proportion of variance in predicting well-being for girls/women. This study suggests that religious commitment influences a person's sense of meaning in life, which, in turn, influences her/his well-being. And, we hope that these results encourage professionals to explore with their clients the fundamental questions of meaning and purpose in life.

Factors influencing dietary fat intake among black emerging adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine what factors influenced dietary fat intake (DFI) among black emerging adults. PARTICIPANTS: Sample included 251 black emerging adults, ages 18-25 years, living in the US. METHODS: This was a nonexperimental cross-sectional study based on self-report data. RESULTS: The sample had high DFI. Factors related to DFI were gender (rpb = -.22, p < .001), perceived barriers for healthy eating (r = .32, p < .001), and perceived self-efficacy (r = -.33, p < .001). These variables were also significant predictors for DFI. Gender was significantly related to DFI (b = -5.894, p = .000). Religious commitment moderated the effect of stress on DFI. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, perceived barriers for healthy eating, and perceived self-efficacy were significant predictors for DFI. Religious commitment influenced the relationship of perceived stress and DFI. These findings may lead to interventions designed to reduce DFI and cardiovascular risks among black emerging adults.

Religious Commitment and its Relation to Happiness among Muslim Students: The Educational Level as Moderator.

This study examines the relationship between religiosity and level of happiness in an Islamic context among Muslim students studying at Malaysian universities. The determinants of happiness included in this research are positive attitudes, self-esteem, and other-esteem. Religiosity has long been considered as the main determinant in increasing happiness, and educational level strengthens its relationship. For this purpose, the researchers sampled 230 Muslim students aged 17-40 years studying at Malaysian universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study found a positive and significant correlation between religious commitment and level of happiness. Religious commitment also shows positive and significant correlations with positive attitudes, self-esteem, and other-esteem. The study also concludes that educational attainment moderates the relationship between religious commitment and happiness. Thus, religious commitment plays a very important role in increasing levels of happiness.

Volunteer Work, Religious Commitment, and Resting Pulse Rates.

Research indicates that greater involvement in volunteer activities is associated with better health. We aim to contribute to this literature in two ways. First, rather than rely on self-reports of health, measured resting pulse rates serve as the dependent variable. Second, an effort is made to see if religious commitment moderates the relationship between volunteering and resting pulse rates. Data that come from a recent nationwide survey (N = 2265) suggest that volunteer work is associated with lower resting pulse rates. The results also reveal that the relationship between engaging in volunteer work and resting pulse rates improves among study participants who are more deeply committed to religion.

Religion as problem, religion as solution: religious buffers of the links between religious/spiritual struggles and well-being/mental health.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have established robust links between religious/spiritual struggles (r/s struggles) and poorer well-being and psychological distress. A critical issue involves identifying the religious factors that buffer this relationship. This is the first study to empirically address this question. Specifically, it examines four religious factors (i.e., religious commitment, life sanctification, religious support, religious hope) as potential buffers of the links between r/s struggle and one indicator of subjective well-being (i.e., happiness) and one indicator of psychological distress (i.e., depressive symptoms). METHOD: We utilized a cross-sectional design and a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 2140) dealing with a wide range of major life stressors. RESULTS: We found that the interactions between r/s struggle and all potential moderators were significant in predicting happiness and/or depression. The linkage between r/s struggle and lower levels of happiness was moderated by higher levels of each of the four proposed religious buffers. Religious commitment and life sanctification moderated the ties between r/s struggles and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the multifaceted character of religion: Paradoxically, religion may be a source of solutions to problems that may be an inherent part of religious life.

Religiousness, religious coping methods and distress level among psychiatric patients in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Patients having psychiatric diagnoses often experience high level of distress. Religiousness is often used by them as part of their coping mechanism and problem-solving strategies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of religious commitment and coping methods in psychiatric patients and its relationship with distress level. METHODS: Religious commitment and coping patterns were measured with the Duke University Religious Index (DUREL) and Brief RCOPE, respectively. Psychopathology was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and distress level was assessed with the Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Social support and experiences of recent threatening events were measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Life Threatening Events (LTE). RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 40.2 years. The majority were male, Malay, Muslim, single and with psychotic disorder. The subjects had a high level of religious commitment and had used more positive coping methods. Negative religious coping, psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis of anxiety disorder or major depression were significantly associated with high distress level. Higher religious commitment was significantly associated with lower distress (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Psychiatric patients were religiously committed and used more positive religious coping methods. Practices of negative religious coping, severe psychiatric symptoms and anxiety/depression were associated with higher distress.

A influência dos valores humanos no compromisso religioso / The influence of human values on religious commitment

A presente pesquisa analisou a relação entre o compromisso religioso e os valores humanos. Dois estudos específicos foram realizados. No primeiro participaram 535 estudantes, com idade média de 15,5 anos (DP = 3,24), a maioria do sexo feminino (63,1%). No segundo, participaram 431 estudantes, com idade média de 15,4 anos (DP = 3,29), a maioria do sexo feminino (59%). As hipóteses propostas foram corroboradas, indicando uma relação direta entre o compromisso religioso e os valores sociais, assim como uma relação inversa estabelecida com os valores de experimentação. Um efeito de supressão foi observado dos valores normativos sobre os valores de existência, sugerindo uma maior complexidade na interação entre os valores como explicadores do compromisso religioso.

In the current research the relation between religious commitment and human values was analyzed. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, 535 school and university students took part, with a mean age of 15.5 years (SD = 3.24), mostly women (63.1%). In Study 2, participants were 431 school and university students, with a mean age of 15.4 years (SD = 3.29), mostly women (59%). Proposed hypotheses were corroborated, indicating a direct relation between religious commitment and social values, as well as an opposite relation established with experimentation values. A suppression effect was observed from normative values on existence values, suggesting a higher complexity in the relation established among values as predictors of religious commitment.

A influência dos valores humanos no compromisso religioso / The influence of human values on religious commitment

A presente pesquisa analisou a relação entre o compromisso religioso e os valores humanos. Dois estudos específicos foram realizados. No primeiro participaram 535 estudantes, com idade média de 15,5 anos (DP = 3,24), a maioria do sexo feminino (63,1%). No segundo, participaram 431 estudantes, com idade média de 15,4 anos (DP = 3,29), a maioria do sexo feminino (59%). As hipóteses propostas foram corroboradas, indicando uma relação direta entre o compromisso religioso e os valores sociais, assim como uma relação inversa estabelecida com os valores de experimentação. Um efeito de supressão foi observado dos valores normativos sobre os valores de existência, sugerindo uma maior complexidade na interação entre os valores como explicadores do compromisso religioso.(AU)

In the current research the relation between religious commitment and human values was analyzed. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, 535 school and university students took part, with a mean age of 15.5 years (SD = 3.24), mostly women (63.1%). In Study 2, participants were 431 school and university students, with a mean age of 15.4 years (SD = 3.29), mostly women (59%). Proposed hypotheses were corroborated, indicating a direct relation between religious commitment and social values, as well as an opposite relation established with experimentation values. A suppression effect was observed from normative values on existence values, suggesting a higher complexity in the relation established among values as predictors of religious commitment.(AU)

Índice de Compromisso Religioso (ICR): elaboração e evidências psicométricas / Religious Commitment Index (RCI): elaboration and psychometric evidences

Este artigo descreve o desenvolvimento do Índice de Compromisso Religioso (ICR), que busca unir diferentes dimensões do compromisso religioso em um único índice, mediante dois estudos. Participaram desses estudos 317 estudantes (Estudo 1) e 194 pessoas (Estudo 2), com médias de idade semelhantes (Estudo 1: m = 16,6, DP = 5,20; Estudo 2: m = 16, DP = 4,41), a maioria mulheres (53,6% e 67,5%, respectivamente). Os participantes responderam a uma escala de crenças e outra de práticas religiosas, além de perguntas sobre religiosidade e sóciodemográficas. Os estudos demonstraram as diferentes dimensões agrupando-se em um único fator, explicando 65% da variância total e apresentando consistência interna satisfatória. Tais resultados sugerem a adequação da ICR para utilização nos grupos religiosos estudados.

This paper describes the development of the Religious Commitment Index (RCI) which aims at grouping different dimensions of religious commitment in one single index by conducting two studies. Three hundred seventeen students took part in Study 1 and 194 people in Study 2, with similar mean ages (Study 1: m = 16.6, SD = 5.20; Study 2: m = 16, SD = 4.41), mostly female (53.6% and 67.5%, respectively). All participants completed one scale of religious beliefs and one of religious practices, followed by religious related and socio-demographic questions. Both studies showed the different dimensions grouping in one single factor, accounting for 65% of the total variance and showing satisfactory internal consistency. The results suggest the adequacy of the RCI for the studied religious groups.

Índice de Compromisso Religioso (ICR): elaboração e evidências psicométricas / Religious Commitment Index (RCI): elaboration and psychometric evidences

Este artigo descreve o desenvolvimento do Índice de Compromisso Religioso (ICR), que busca unir diferentes dimensões do compromisso religioso em um único índice, mediante dois estudos. Participaram desses estudos 317 estudantes (Estudo 1) e 194 pessoas (Estudo 2), com médias de idade semelhantes (Estudo 1: m = 16,6, DP = 5,20; Estudo 2: m = 16, DP = 4,41), a maioria mulheres (53,6% e 67,5%, respectivamente). Os participantes responderam a uma escala de crenças e outra de práticas religiosas, além de perguntas sobre religiosidade e sóciodemográficas. Os estudos demonstraram as diferentes dimensões agrupando-se em um único fator, explicando 65% da variância total e apresentando consistência interna satisfatória. Tais resultados sugerem a adequação da ICR para utilização nos grupos religiosos estudados.(AU)

This paper describes the development of the Religious Commitment Index (RCI) which aims at grouping different dimensions of religious commitment in one single index by conducting two studies. Three hundred seventeen students took part in Study 1 and 194 people in Study 2, with similar mean ages (Study 1: m = 16.6, SD = 5.20; Study 2: m = 16, SD = 4.41), mostly female (53.6% and 67.5%, respectively). All participants completed one scale of religious beliefs and one of religious practices, followed by religious related and socio-demographic questions. Both studies showed the different dimensions grouping in one single factor, accounting for 65% of the total variance and showing satisfactory internal consistency. The results suggest the adequacy of the RCI for the studied religious groups.(AU)