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Research Square
By VITORINO L, Rosa RA, Carvalho FT and 4 others.
Abstract Purpose: To investigate the associations between spirituality/religiosity (S/R), suicidal ideation (SI), and depressive symptoms among middle-to-old-aged Brazilian homeless individuals.
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This cross-sectional study included 162 individuals aged 50 years or older from the city of São Paulo, Brazil. SI was assessed using item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the total score of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Religiosity was measured using the Duke Religion Index (DUREL), spirituality using the FACIT-Sp-12, and spiritual/religious coping (SRC) using the Brief RCOPE scale. Adjusted ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine SI severity, and adjusted linear regression models were used to assess depressive symptoms.
Participants had a mean age of 58.45 years (SD = 5.89); 79% were male, and 55.6% were divorced, separated, or widowed. SI was reported by 19.8% of the sample, and 42% presented significant depressive symptoms. Higher levels of spiritual well-being (Meaning and Peace) and intrinsic religiosity were associated with lower depressive symptom scores. Greater intrinsic religiosity, higher Meaning and Peace scores, and positive SRC were associated with lower SI severity, whereas negative SRC was associated with greater SI severity and higher depressive symptom levels.
R/S appear to play dual roles in the mental health of middle-to-old-aged homeless individuals, functioning as correlates of better or worse mental health outcomes. These findings underscore the relevance of incorporating religious and spiritual dimensions into public health strategies and support the development of tailored interventions integrating S/R into mental health and social care policies.
This is a preprint: it has not been peer reviewed yet, and its findings may change.
Published in Research Square (preprint). The abstract is shown as published and remains the work of its authors; read the full article at the source.
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