An Evaluation of Research Done on the Relationship Between Religion and Mental and Physical Health

Year 2010, Volume: 28 Issue: 28, 5 - 36, 01.02.2010

Mustafa Köylü

Abstract

Although the relationship between psychology and religion has not been very well for the last two hundreds, there has been tremendous research recently indicating positive relationship between religion and mental and physical health. This situation has not only been supported by the theologians but also secular scholars who work at medical schools. The research shows that while more religious man or woman are happier, more optimistic and better in terms of psychological well-being than those who are less religious; have less depression, less anxiety, and less oriented to suicide. In addition, those who are more religious people are better in physical health situation than those who are less religious people. As a result of these developments, many medical schools and colleges of psychology in the United States of America have begun to include the course of religion in their curriculum. However, when we talk about the effects of religion on mental and physical health, we should take into consideration the dimensions of religiosity, types of religiosity, cultures, races, countries, and religions of people involved in these studies.

Keywords

Mental health, physical health, religion, psychology of religion.

Ruh ve Beden Sağlığı Üzerine Yapılan Araştırmaların Bir Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Her ne kadar din ile psikoloji arasındaki ilişkiler son iki yüz yıldır çok sağlıklı olmadıysa da, son zamanlarda din ile ruh ve beden sağlığı arasındaki pozitif ilişkiyi gösteren pek çok çalışma vardır. Bu durum sadece ilahiyatçılar tarafından değil, diğer alanlardaki bilim insanları tarafından da desteklenmektedir. Bu alanda yapılan araştırmalar, daha dindar olanların daha az dindar olanlara kıyasla daha mutlu, daha iyimser ve genel olarak psikolojik açıdan da daha iyi durumda olduklarını; buna karşılık daha az strese, kaygıya ve depresyona maruz kaldıklarını ve daha az intihara teşebbüs ettiklerini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, daha dindar olanların daha az dindar olanlara oranla, bedensel sağlık açısından da daha iyi durumda oldukları görülmektedir. İşte bu gelişmelerin bir sonucu olarak, bugün başta ABD ve diğer gelişmiş ülkelerde birçok Tıp Fakültesi ve Psikoloji Bölümleri programlarına dini danışmanlıkla ilgili dersler koymaktadırlar. Makale, ruh ve beden sağlığı ile din ilişkisi üzerine yapılan bazı ampirik çalışmaların sonuçlarını ortaya koyarak değerlendirmeye çalışacaktır. Ancak bununla beraber, dinin ruh ve beden sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerinden bahsederken, dindarlığın çeşitli boyutlarını, dindarlık şekillerini, kültürleri, ırkları, ülkeleri ve araştırma yapılan kişilerin dinlerini de dikkate almak gerekir.

Keywords

Ruh sağlığı, beden sağlığı, din, Din Psikolojisi

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