Religiosity spirituality and nonreligious spiritual practices linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Scientific Reports February 28, 2026 Patryk Główczyński, Paweł Dębski, Karina Badura-Brzoza
Spirituality may protect against depressive symptoms in young adults, but its relationship with anxiety is complex and depends on how spirituality is expressed. In a cross-sectional study of 1,240 Polish adults aged 18-25, higher overall spirituality and specific spiritual domains—Direct Connection with the Creator, Asceticism, and Divine Love—were linked to less severe depressive symptoms. However, anxiety levels were highest among those engaging in non-religious forms of spiritual practices, regardless of whether they identified as Catholic or atheist. The Meditation domain correlated with higher anxiety in Catholics and atheists, while Divine Love and Asceticism correlated with lower anxiety in specific subgroups. The findings suggest spirituality's role in mental health varies by how it is practiced and integrated with one's worldview.