Spirituality, religiosity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Objective: Depression and anxiety were disorders evidenced during the - Coronavirus disease19 pandemic. In this study, these conditions were evaluated as a function of Spirituality/Religiosity, as well as private prayer practices and attendance at religious spaces. Spirituality and religiosity have been widely investigated as health promoters. Methods: A sample of 1,293 participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory Primary Care, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Religious Spiritual Coping Brief Scale, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The group was separated into Spirituality/Religiosity levels, prayer practices, and attendance at religious centers. Results: An ANOVA concluded that those who pray alone daily develop lower anxiety traits (F (8,133) = 7.885, p < 0.001) compared with individuals who pray once or twice a year. Participants who self-declared to be very spiritual exhibited fewer depressive symptoms (M = 2.57, SD = 2.88) compared to non-spiritual participants (M = 4.29, SD = 4.07, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In summary, Spirituality/Religiosity can positively impact mental health.