Intrinsic, Extrinsic Religiosity and Gender as Predictors of Attitudes towards Mental Illness among Lebanese University Students
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2020
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This study examines the extent to which Allport’s two forms of religious commitment (intrinsic (I) and extrinsic (E) religiosity), as well as gender predict attitudes toward mental illness in a sample of 200 Lebanese university students of both sexes and aged between 18 and 25 years. Religiosity was measured by Gorsuch and McPherson’s Religiosity Scale (I/E-R) which further distinguishes between extrinsic-personal (Ep) and extrinsic-social (Es) religiosity. Attitudes toward mental illness, namely stigma, were measured by the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale (CAMI). Findings revealed that participants on average had positive attitudes toward mental illness, and were low on all three dimensions of religiosity (I, Ep and Es). A hierarchical multiple regression, after controlling for demographics, found no significant prediction of Ep and Es for the outcome variable, yet contrary to literature findings, participants high on intrinsic religiosity (I) had negative attitudes toward mental illness (r = -.18, p < .05), and there was a significant positive relationship between I and Es (rs = .27, p < .01). In line with literature findings, there was a significant positive relationship between I and Ep (rs = .63, p < .01). In line with previous literature, gender was a significant negative predictor of overall attitudes towards mental illness, suggesting a more positive attitude toward mental illness for women. There is optimism in the overall finding that, contrary to previous literature on stigma and mental illness in Lebanon, our sample showed positive attitudes toward mental illness, as well as in the finding that religiosity did not predict attitudes towards mental illness, in a region where religion has been shown to contribute to the stigma against mental illness. This may be an indicator that traditional religious-oriented mindsets concerning mental illness may be changing. However, in light of the unexpected relation between intrinsic religiosity and stigma, as well as between I and Es, the concept of religiosity as per Allport’s original formulation and later research on the dimensions of religiosity, is re-examined and interpreted in relation to the Lebanese socio-cultural context.
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Valentine, V. (2020). Intrinsic, Extrinsic Religiosity and Gender as Predictors of Attitudes towards Mental Illness among Lebanese University Students (SBS thesis, Haigazian University)