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Mental Health and Religiosity Amongst Marialionceros in Venezuela

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Abstract

Although the religion of Maria Lionza is practiced throughout Venezuela, it is not in the mainstream of Venezuelan culture. As a result, traditionally this religious manifestation has been perceived negatively by the dominant religious establishment, as well as by intellectual and political elites. One particular concern in this dominant narrative is that the religion of Maria Lionza represents Venezuela’s uncivilized past and therefore, it is an obstacle to the nation’s path to modernization. This notion has found resonance in the realm of psychology, as it has been posited that the religion of Maria Lionza may have detrimental effects on mental health. The present study tests that hypothesis, by studying a sample of 68 Marialionceros and comparing them with a control group of 62 Catholics and 53 Protestants. Results show that, as compared to Catholics and Protestants, Marialionceros are at greater risk for schizotypy, but not for general mental health. Results also show that amongst Marialionceros, increased religiosity predicts decreased risk of depression.

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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

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  1. Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates

    Gabriel Andrade

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  1. Gabriel Andrade
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Andrade, G. Mental Health and Religiosity Amongst Marialionceros in Venezuela. J Relig Health 61, 269–285 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01367-7

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