k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k 1
In this study, researchers examined the levels of depression that participants
experienced over the past week. The research variables consisted of nominal
measures with a total of 29 participants who participated in this study: 69%
identifying as biological females and 31% identifying as biological males. Figure 1
shows the relations between gender and spirituality, and Figure 2 shows the relation
between gender and feeling sad.
k k k k k k k k k k The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between
intrinsic spirituality and levels of depression. To determine this relationship between
intrinsic spirituality and depression, researchers used paired samples t-tests in spss,
Figure 1. A paired samples t-test was conducted to determine the correlation between
“my spirituality” and “felt sad”, df= 28, SD= 3.61, with a 95% confidence interval (1.00,
3.75), (mean= 2.38), one sided p< .001 and two-sided p= .001. This was found to be
statistically significant and reject the null hypothesis. Looking at Table 1, you will see
the information provided about the relationship between, “My Spirituality” and “How
Sad I Felt.”
Table 1
The Relationship Between My Spirituality and How Sad I Felt
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k Paired Samples Test
Pair 1
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k Mean k k SD k k k k k k SD error k k k k k 95% CI k k df k k k k k
significance
k k k k k k k k k k My spirituality
k k k k k k k k k k Felt Sad k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k 2.38 k k k 3.61 k k k k k k k .670 k k k k k 1.00-3.75 k k k 28 k k <.001 -
.001
Note. This table demonstrates the relationship between intrinsic spirituality and one
of the lowest levels for the depression scale questions.
Figure 1
Relation between Gender and spirituality
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k 2
Note. The above figure shows the relationship between females (1) and males (2)
based on intrinsic spirituality.
Figure 2.
Relation between gender and feeling sad.
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k 3
Note. The above figure shows the relationship between females (1) and males (2)
based on how sad they felt on a scale of 0-6.
Discussion
k k k k The goal of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between
intrinsic spirituality and levels of depression. A paired samples t-test was conducted
to determine the correlation between “my spirituality” and “felt sad”, df= 28, SD= 3.61,
with a 95% confidence interval (1.00, 3.75), (mean= 2.38), one sided p< .001 and two-
sided p= .001. Some of the limitations of this study included there being a short
amount of time to collect data and only having self-reported data. Going forward, this
study could allow for there to be more research into how religion and spirituality may
help to improve a person’s depression and may help to improve their lifestyle. This
could also help the general public to lean more towards spirituality as a way of
dealing and coping with depression, since therapy and taking prescribed medications
are typically the most common. This would be another way for people to be able to
find themselves again and could improve their happiness over time. For future
studies being conducted similar to this one, I would suggest that there would be
more questions related to actions taken during the week (such as activities they were
involved in and how they felt while doing these activities). This could also help to
determine if the person was more depressed if they laid in bed more often since they
reported being sad or if they were more active after they went to church or prayed
that morning. This is important to the field of psychology since depression is such a
highly known mental health issues that such a large number of people struggle with.
k k k k k k k k k k k k k k k 4
Allowing more research between these two variables could possibly change
psychology in general for those helping others deal with depression. This study was
similar to other research studies that have been previously conducted.
k k k k Religion has been such a powerful contributor to mental and physical well-being
over time. The results of this study shown between mental health and religion found
that there is a unique role between the two variables which play a huge part in
personality (Haney & Rollock, 2020). The researchers found that there was a strong
statistical significance between intrinsic and extrinsic religion when it came to
depression. However, there was found to be no significance when it came to intrinsic
and extrinsic religion for the satisfaction with life (Haney & Rollock, 2020). This
research showed there was a huge significance between intrinsic spirituality and
levels of depression however this did not determine how satisfied the person was
with their life. The study had a target population of large public university students
with about 580 total participants, who ranged in ages from 18 to 29 years of age.
What does no specific data about gender in this research. Meaning that it
contradicted the study that was conducted above.
k k k k Looking at may cause levels of depression can be a huge factor when it comes
to the outcome of the study. The awareness of a diagnosis for a terminally ill patient
with cancer may have a different outlook on life and there are levels of depression
that come with this. There was a total of 299 patients who are terminally ill with
cancer that participated in the study (Lai et al., 2016). This study did not include
anything specific about. Researchers used the hospital anxiety and depression scale
to collect the necessary data. Based on the information collected the researchers
were able to determine if there was a statistical significance inpatient who were
aware of their diagnosis versus those who are not. The participants who were aware
of their diagnosis were also found to have statistical significance with Intrinsic
spirituality. However, when it came to the statistical significance found between
spirituality and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, they were
found to be no significance (Lai et al., 2016). In this case, they were still found to be
lower levels of depression and anxiety in terminally ill patient with cancer who were
aware of their diagnosis than those who were not.
Lastly, the correlation of spirituality and other women was conducted to look at
mental health and successful aging. The total of 3653 surveys sent out to
participants, however, only 1942 that were received were able to be used for the
study (Vahia et al., 2010). Humane measures of the study looked at spirituality and
successful aging, meaning depression was not as much of a concern as the other
studies were. The study found that there was I statistical significance in spirituality
when it was associated with more demographic variables. The participants used were
from all around but recruited through San Diego clinical Center for women’s Health
initiative (Vahia et al., 2010). Since this study looked at older women and women only
there was not much for demographics and participant options related in the data.
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References
Vahia, I. V., Depp, C. A., Palmer, B. W., Fellows, I., Golshan, S., Thompson, W., Allison,
M., & Jeste, D. V. (2010). Correlates of spirituality in older women. Aging & Mental
Health, 15(1), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2010.501069
Lai, C., Luciani, M., Galli, F., Morelli, E., Del Prete, F., Ginobbi, P., Penco, I., Aceto, P., &
Lombardo, L. (2016). Spirituality and awareness of diagnoses in terminally ill patients
with cancer. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 34(6), 505–509.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909116630985
Haney, A. M., & Rollock, D. (2020). A matter of faith: The role of religion, doubt, and
personality in emerging adult mental health. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,
12(2), 247–253. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000231
