Assessment of religious coping and psychological distress as screening tools in community mental health services

Abstract

Objective: To assess the use of SRQ-20 and RCOPE as complementary tools to the Nursing Process.
Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out with 313 adults from two therapeutic communities (Therapeutic communities are usually residential facilities in which the community structure and function are agents of change. Community members progress through varying roles and responsibilities in their recovery and collectively ensure day-to-day functioning of the community.). and a community mental health treatment unit, located in two cities in northern Paraná (Brazil).
Results: The sample consisted of 313 individuals, aged between 18 and 68 years (M = 36.87, SD = 13.21). The majority of participants (57.9%) were female, of east-asian descent (35.7%), with a socioeconomic level equivalent to US$252.48 (65.8%) and incomplete secondary education (60%). Of the sample, 43.4% (n = 136) had a depressive disorder and 23.7% (n = 74) had an anxiety disorder. As for suicidal behavior, 52.1% of the participants mentioned having suicidal ideation at some point in their lives. Of those with ideation (n = 163), more than half (54.6%) reported not seeking help in times of crisis. Based on the frequencies obtained using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), 41.9% of the subjects obtained a score of 8 points, representing the cut-off point for risk of mental disorders. Regarding the hours of religious practices carried out by the participant (measured in weekly hours), the average obtained was 2.70 hours.
Conclusions: The application of the SRQ-20 helped identify that 48.58% of the individuals were classified as suffering from psychological distress. The early identification of signs of suffering and religious coping strategies have proven to be beneficial and necessary for the nurse's work process, as it adds better direction to the anamnesis and also to the alignment of the health team in promoting comprehensive care, including aspects of the spiritual dimension in nursing care.

Keywords

Suicide prevention / Coping strategies / Religion and psychology / Community mental health services / Psychiatric nursing

References

[1] Zheng Y, Tyrovolas AMS, Yip PSF. Epidemiological changes, demographic drivers and global Years of life lost from suicide over the period 1990-2019. Suicide Life-threat behav. 2022 [cited 2024 dec 08]; 52(3): 439-51. PMid:35137457 https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12836

[2] de Carvalho MLSND, Costa MR, Simões NS, et al. Child mental health: early detection and interventions in anxiety disorders and depression. LEV [Internet]. 2024. Set. 2; 15(39): 3106-15. https://doi.org/10.56238/levv15n39-116

[3] Morais WBS, Nascimento FF, Penha JC, et al. Trend in mortality from mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol use in Brazil, 2010-2021. Epidemiol Serv Saude [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 24]; 33: 1-12. PMid:39016404 https://doi.org/10.1590/s2237-96222024v33e20231483.en

[4] Kucharska K, Gajewski R. Czynniki ryzyka a czynniki ochronne zachowan´ samobójczych u osób z diagnoza˛ depresji. 2023. https://doi.org/10.34766/fetr.v56i4.1227

[5] Oliveira TAA, Gouveia VV, Ribeiro MGC, et al. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12): new evidence of construct validity. 2023. p. 803-810. PMid:36888864 https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232023283.09452022

[6] Silveira LB, Kroeff CR, Teixeira MAP, et al. The use of self-reportng questionnaire (SRQ-20) for clinical group identificaton and suicide risk predicton. Revista Psicologia e Saúde. Porto Alegre (Brasil); 2021. p. 49-61. https://doi.org/10.20435/pssa.v13i4.1219

[7] Cheng C, Ying W. A meta-analytic review of the associations between dimensions of religious coping and psychological symptoms during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychiatr. [Internet]. 2023; 14: 1097598. PMid:36741121 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1097598

[8] Haney A, Lane S. Religious Coping Is Differentially Associated with Physiological and Subjective Distress Indicators: Comparing Cortisol and Self-Report Patterns. Medicina Comportamental. 2023; 1-9. PMid:37964623 https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2023.2277926

[9] IBGE [Internet]. Rolândia. Atualizada em 2024 [cited Set 10]. Available from: https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/pr/rolandia/panorama

[10] IBGE [Internet]. Londrina. Atualizada em 2024 [cited Set 10]. Available from: https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/pr/londrina/panorama

[11] Panzini RG, Bandeira DR. Spiritual/religious coping. Arch. Clin. Psychiatry. 2007; 34(1 Suppl): 126-135. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000700016

[12] Harding TW, de Arango MV, Baltazar J, et al. Mental disorders in primary health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries. Psychol Med. 1980. May; 10(2): 231-41. PMid:7384326 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291700043993

[13] Prasetio CE, Triwahyuni A, Prathama AG. Psychometric Properties of Self-Report Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) Indonesian Version. 2022; 49(1): 69. https://doi.org/10.22146/jpsi.69782

[14] Marbin D, Gutwinski S, Schreiter S, et al. Perspectives in poverty and mental health. Frontiers in Public Health. 2022. PMid:35991010 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.975482

[15] Amissah C, Nyarko K. Facing the Ills of Unemployment: The Role of Religiosity and Social Support. Journal of Religion and Health. 2020; 59: 2577-2594. PMid:31912351 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-019-00977-6

[16] Buitrago SCC, Agudelo JMP, Marín MN, et al. Predictive model of suicide risk in Colombian university students: quantitative analysis of associated factors. Front. Psychiatry. 2024; 15: 1291299. PMid:38855643 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1291299

[17] De Leon G, Unterrainer HF. The Therapeutic Community: A Unique Social Psychological Approach to the Treatment of Addictions and Related Disorders. Front. Psychiatry. 2020; 11: 786. PMid:32848950 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00786

[18] Lemes AG, Nascimento VF do, Rocha EM da, et al. Community therapy as complementary care for drug users and its contributions to anxiety and depression. Esc Anna Nery [Internet]. 2020; 24(3): e20190321. https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-ean-2019-0321

[19] Global Burden of Disease 2021: mental health messages. Lancet Psychiatry. 2024; 11: 573. PMid:39025623 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00222-0

[20] Torres Neto F, Lovisi GM, Unger RJG, et al. Common mental disorders among populations assisted by Primary Health Care in Brazil: an integrative review [Internet]. 2023; 31(3): e31030119. https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-462x202331030119

[21] Katugume P, Namukowa JB, Nankunda O, et al. Coping Strategies, Challenges and Potential Interventions among Adult Patients with HIV and Mental Illness Comorbidity in Southwestern Uganda. Global Public Health. 2024; 19(1). PMid:38989538 https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2024.2372802

[22] Christoffersen MN, Kahn L. Can life events predict first-time suicide attempts? A nationwide longitudinal study. 2024; 15(3): 371-393. PMid:38954423 https://doi.org/10.1332/17579597Y2024D000000020

[23] Borges M, Lucchetti G, Leão FC, et al. Religious Affiliations Influence Health-Related and General Decision Making: A Brazilian Nationwide Survey. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2021; 18(6): 2873. PMid:33799740 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062873

[24] Hussey I. Sexual misconduct amongst evangelical leaders: a practical theological reflection. Practical Theology. 2023; 16: 655-668. https://doi.org/10.1080/1756073X.2023.2168228

[25] Rajan V, Saya GK, Menon V, et al. Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Its Association with Religiosity and Spiritual Intelligence Among Adults in Rural Puducherry, India: A Community-Based Study. J Relig Health. 2024. PMid:38848026 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02063-y

[26] IBGE [Internet]. Census: Number of Catholics falls and number of Evangelicals, Spiritualists and those with no religion increases. Updated in 2024 [cited Jan 25]. 2010. Available from: https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/agencia-sala-de-imprensa/2013-agencia-de-noticias/releases/14244-asi-censo-2010-numero-de-catolicos-cai-e-aumenta-o-de-evangelicos-espiritas-e-sem-religiao

[27] Peres MFP, Swerts D, De Oliveira AB, et al. Mental Health and Quality of Life Among Adults With Single, Multiple, and No Religious Affiliations. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2020; 208(4): 288-293. PMid:32221182 https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001115

[28] Huynh VS, Tran-Thien GP, Nguyen TB, et al. What Do We Know About the Influence of Believers’ Religiosity on Happiness and Gratitude? A Perspective for Clinical Practice. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024; 19(17): 2433-2447. PMid:38912159 https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S465729

[29] Schnitker S, Medenwaldt J, Williams E. Religiosity in adolescence. Current Opinion in Psychology. 2020; 40: 155-159. PMid:33176270 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.09.012

[30] Van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse J, Schaap-Jonker H, Anbeek C, et al. Religious/spiritual care needs and treatment alliance among clinical mental health patients. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2020. PMid:32890450 https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12685

[31] Coelho-Júnior HJ, Calvani R, Panza F, et al. Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis of Observational Studies. Front. Med. 2022; 9: 877213. PMid:35646998 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.877213

[32] Bobyk OA. Assessment of the influence of religiosity on mental health. Medicine. 2024; 12(1): 118-125. https://doi.org/10.2 9234/2308-9113-2024-12-1-118-125

[33] Kayser J, Tenke CE, Svob C, et al. Family Risk for Depression and Prioritization of Religion or Spirituality: Early Neurophysiological Modulations of Motivated Attention. Frente. Hum. Neurosci. 2019; 13: 436. PMid:31920595 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00436

[34] Burt S, Lewis R, Braithwaite Y. Faith Community Nursing. Journal of Christian Nursing. 2024; 41: 160-165. PMid:38853314 https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000001178

[35] Papaleontiou-Louca E. Religiosity: Is It Mainly Linked to Mental Health or to Psychopathology? Religions. 2024; 15(7): 811. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15070811

[36] Jacob IRR, Soares MH, Oliveira KL. Religious coping and suicidal ideation as a predictive model for suicide attempts. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. 2024; 14(5): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v14n5p31