Item Detail
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27733
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0
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0
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English
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The Relationship Between Mental Health Symptoms and Religiosity in a Latter-day Saint Sample that Resides Outside a Culturally LDS Region of the United States
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Denver, Colorado
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University of the Rockies
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Doctor of Psychology
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This study examined the relationship between religiosity and mental health symptoms among Latter-day Saints who reside in the Colorado Springs, Colorado area. Previous research has studied the relationship between religiosity and mental health within a variety of cultures and among many different religious groups. More specifically, this research has examined the motivation of religious participation (e.g., extrinsic and intrinsic) and its impact on mental health outcomes. However, little research has been conducted among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon)—specifically among Latter-day Saints outside of traditionally LDS areas of the United States. Eight-five participants recruited through social media advertising completed a survey to assess general mental health symptoms (depressive, anxious, repetitive thoughts/behaviors) and religiosity (extrinsic and intrinsic). Sixty-nine participants were included in the data analysis after excluding participants who did not fully complete the survey. The majority of participants were lifelong members of the LDS Church (75.4%) who were married in the temple (71.0%). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine whether anxiety, depression, or repetitive thoughts/behaviors were significantly correlated with intrinsic religiosity and/or extrinsic religiosity. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) tested whether mental health symptoms significantly varied in regards to LDS school attendance and marital status. Furthermore, a linear regression analysis tested whether the number of children predicted mental health symptoms. The results of these analyses noted only one significant finding in regards to a negative relationship between anxiety and religiosity. These findings indicate that Latter-day Saints, particularly those who have been raised in the church and marry in the temple, exhibit no significant relationship between mental health symptoms and religiosity, with the exception of anxiety.