Citation

Huculak S, McLennan JD. Ment. Health Relig. Cult. 2010; 13(5): 467.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13674670903406096

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Intrinsic and institutional spirituality or religiosity may each provide unique protective effects against the negative impacts of stress on mental health. Whether this extends to adolescents exposed to high levels of community violence is unknown. Three hundred twenty-five incarcerated adolescents from Satildeo Paulo City, Brazil responded to questions about spirituality and violence exposure drawn from the Social and Health Assessment, and mental health problems drawn from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. There was some evidence that intrinsic and institutional spirituality/religiosity may buffer the relation between violence exposure and certain mental health problems, and that intrinsic spirituality may mediate the relationship between institutional activities and certain mental well-being outcomes. These findings extend a degree of support to the multi-dimensional nature of spirituality to high-risk youth populations, suggesting a small differential and interactive role that intrinsic and institutional spirituality may play in protecting against some mental health problems.