Religiosity and mental health: A further exploration of the relative importance of religious behaviors vs. religious attitudes

This study examines the relative contribution of religious involvement and religious attitudes in the prediction of mental health in adulthood. Participants (N = 472) completed questionnaires assessing religious involvement, religious orientations and social-cognitive approaches to religion. Relations were examined with both psychological distress and psychological well-being. In line with past research, results show that the religious orientations and social-cognitive approaches to religion were significantly related to well-being outcomes, whereas religious involvement was not. The social-cognitive approaches to religion were predictive of both distress and well-being. Specifically, literal approaches to religion were negatively related to well-being and positively to distress. The religious orientations were predictive of well-being only. Specifically, Intrinsic and Extrinsic (Personal) predicted higher and lower levels of well-being, respectively.