The Impact of Spirituality and Religiosity on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Patients with Active Crohn's Disease.

ABSTRACT

We aim to investigate the association among religious/spiritual coping (RSC), quality of life (QOL), and mental health in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). This cross-sectional study included 102 patients with active CD. Religious and spiritual beliefs were common among patients, being positive RSC higher than negative RSC. Negative coping was associated with mood disorders (depressive or anxiety symptoms) through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (ß = 0.260, p < 0.01) but not with QOL (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire) (ß = - 0.105, p = NS) after adjustments. Positive coping and other religious/spiritual beliefs and behaviors were not associated with either QOL or mental health. This study suggests that a negative RSC is associated with worse mental health outcomes. This may detrimentally impact adaptations to deal with CD in the active phase, although patients generally tend to use more common positive strategies. These findings may increase the awareness of health professionals while dealing with spiritual beliefs in patients with CD.