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Spirituality, Religiosity, Quality of Life and Mental Health Among Pantaneiros: A Study Involving a Vulnerable Population in Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between spirituality, religiosity (S/R), mental health and quality of life in a vulnerable population in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. A total of 129 individuals were interviewed. We examined mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), quality of life (SF-12), spirituality (self-spirituality rating scale), religiosity (DUREL) and R/S opinions. Individuals had high levels of spirituality, non-organizational and intrinsic religiosity, but low levels of religious attendance. Most participants said they would like to have their faith addressed by a health professional and that this approach would strengthen their trust on the doctors. Higher levels of spirituality were associated with less anxiety (β = − 0.236, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = − 0.398, p < 0.001); higher levels of non-organizational religiosity were associated with less anxiety (β = − 0.250, p < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (β = − 0.351, p < 0.001); and higher levels of intrinsic religiosity were associated with less depressive symptoms (β = − 0.315, p < 0.001). Quality of life was not associated with any religious/spiritual measures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil

    Lídia Maria Gonçalves, Mayumi Letícia Tissiani Tsuge, Viviane Silva Borghi & Flávia Palla Miranda

  2. School of Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil

    Ana Paula de Assis Sales

  3. School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Av. Eugenio do Nacimento s/n, Juiz de Fora, Brazil

    Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti & Giancarlo Lucchetti

Authors
  1. Lídia Maria Gonçalves
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  2. Mayumi Letícia Tissiani Tsuge
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  3. Viviane Silva Borghi
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  4. Flávia Palla Miranda
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  5. Ana Paula de Assis Sales
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  6. Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti
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  7. Giancarlo Lucchetti
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Correspondence to Giancarlo Lucchetti.

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Gonçalves, L.M., Tsuge, M.L.T., Borghi, V.S. et al. Spirituality, Religiosity, Quality of Life and Mental Health Among Pantaneiros: A Study Involving a Vulnerable Population in Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil. J Relig Health 57, 2431–2443 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0681-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0681-4

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