The Mental Health Benefits of Religion and Spirituality in People Living With Bipolar Disorder in Malaysia

Shariff, N.M.; Wright, Nicola; Crawford, Paul

Abstract

Introduction: The taxonomy of spirituality is fraught with complexities in relation to mental health studies, due to contextual variables such as religion. While positive mental health outcomes have been reported by many studies in relation to spirituality, little is known concerning spirituality’s effects in the context of bipolar disorder. This study aims to provide a contextual understanding of spirituality from the religious worldview of people with bipolar disorder. Method: This is a qualitative study involving semi-structured and one-to-one in-depth interviews. A total of 25 participants diagnosed with bipolar disorder were recruited from two psychiatric outpatient clinics. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim by the researcher. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the data and Bourdieu’s concept of habitus is used to explore the findings in relation to participants’ subjective account on their religious form of spirituality. Finding: The theme ‘Maintaining a positive sense of self’ mainly consists of the religious element in the participants' everyday life: faith in God, religious practices and a sense of spiritual harmony (i.e. peacefulness and connectedness). The role of religion and social agency were inclusive in promoting spirituality among the study sample. Conclusion: Through Bourdieu’s lens of religious habitus, this study provides the understanding of religious-spirituality and a healthy mental state in such a way that it implies a relationship with God through religious beliefs and practices. This study invites other to pay attention to the dynamic roles of religious agency and society in promoting religious faith and practices among individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Citation

Shariff, N., Wright, N., & Crawford, P. (2022). The Mental Health Benefits of Religion and Spirituality in People Living With Bipolar Disorder in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 18(Supplement 19), 55-59. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.18.s19.9

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 20, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Dec 1, 2022
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Dec 2, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Journal: Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1675-8544
• Electronic ISSN: 2636-9346
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: Supplement 19
• Pages: 55-59
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.18.s19.9
• Keywords: Bipolar disorder, Bourdieu, Mental health, Religion, Spirituality
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6845722
• Publisher URL: https://medic.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/202301091707409_1542.pdf
• Related Public URLs: https://medic.upm.edu.my/jurnal_kami/volume_18_2022/mjmhs_vol18_supp_19_december_2022-70742