RELATION OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN FAMILIES WITH MENTAL PATIENTS

Introduction: Religious beliefs as an important factor in mental health to be considered. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between religious beliefs and anxiety and depression in family caregivers in families with patients with mental disorders. Method: This study is causal - comparative. The study population consisted of families with mentally ill patients were hospitalized in psychiatric wards. The sample consisted of 152 family. Research Environment was psychiatric wards in hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Data Collection tools were demographic Characteristics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and religious beliefs questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for to describe data and for determine the relationship between qualitative variables was used of X2 , SPSS 22 software was used. Results: 63.8 percent of family caregivers were male and mostly aged between 30 and 50 years.48 percent of family caregivers has symptoms of anxiety and 67.3 percent have symptoms of depression. Significant relationship was observed between anxiety and religious beliefs [P- value = 0.002]. No significant relationship was observed between depression and religious beliefs [P- value = 0.417]. Conclusion: A religious belief is effective factor in the mental health of family caregivers and to help them be better able to take care of the patient. Whatever religious beliefs of family caregivers are stronger, their anxiety are less and the level of their mental health are more. Keywords: Religious beliefs, anxiety, depression, Family caregivers, patients with mental disorders