Negative Life Events, Patterns of Spirituality in Depressed and Non-Depressed Adults

Abstract

The present research examined the relationship between spirituality and depression in adults who had experienced negative life events. The sample comprised 120 participants, including 60 males and 60 females, all aged 18 years and above. Sixty participants diagnosed with depression were recruited from the psychiatry departments of Services Hospital Lahore, Nishtar Hospital Multan, and Shah Allam Psychotherapy Centre Khanewal. Sixty non-depressed participants were selected from the medical outpatient department of Town Hospital, S-Block, New Multan. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select the sample. All ethical considerations were strictly observed during the study. The Multidimensional Scale of Spirituality was used to assess spirituality, while the Symptom Checklist-Revised (SCL-R) measured depression levels. The Survey of Recent Life Experiences was employed to evaluate the impact of both positive and negative life events. Standard procedures of tool translation were followed for the research instruments. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. The results of the independent sample t-test indicated that the two groups differed significantly in their levels of spirituality and in scores on the survey of life events. Correlation analysis further revealed that depression was negatively associated with several subscales of spirituality, including self-discipline, self-aggrandisement, quest and search for divinity, meanness and generosity, tolerance and intolerance, and Islamic rituals, as well as the overall spirituality score. Moreover, correlation analysis between negative life events and depression showed that depression was positively related to the subscales of social difficulty and financial strain. This study highlights the importance of incorporating religion, spirituality, and cultural context in therapeutic practices. The findings provide valuable guidance for therapists and researchers in designing interventions that address both psychological and spiritual dimensions of mental health.