Investigation of the relationship between religious activity and the severity of symptoms of PTSD and depression in combatants in a combat zone
https://doi.org/10.24884/2219-8245-2025-17-2-23-29
Abstract
The aim of the study was the relationship between religious activity and the severity of symptoms of PTSD and depression in combatants in a combat zone. We hypothesized that a high level of religious activity is associated with less pronounced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The church-educated participants demonstrated the best adaptive abilities. Moderately religious participants showed average levels of anxiety and depression. The nonreligious subjects showed more severe forms of PTSD. Each combatant was tested (D. O. Smirnov's Methodology for measuring religious activity (PEACE); A. Beck's Depression Scale; N.B. Tarabrina's Scale for the clinical diagnosis of PTSD). As the analysis of research shows, religion is a powerful protective force in various powerful stressful situations.
Keywords
About the Authors
M. N. Shkatova
N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Shkatova Marina Nikolaevna, Student of the Additional Professional Retraining Program "Clinical Psychology",
Voronezh.
M. V. Larskikh
N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Larskikh Marina Vladimirovna, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Educational Psychology; Chief Freelance Specialist in Medical Psychology at the Ministry of Health of the Voronezh Region
Voronezh.
.
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Review
For citations:
Shkatova M.N., Larskikh M.V. Investigation of the relationship between religious activity and the severity of symptoms of PTSD and depression in combatants in a combat zone. Medical Psychology in Russia. 2025;17(2):25-31. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24884/2219-8245-2025-17-2-23-29
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