MENTAL HEALTH, RELIGIOSITY, AND RELIGIOUS COPING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENTS

This study aims to investigate the relationship between mental health, as measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and religiosity among university students in east coast Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 484 students, predominantly from medical and health sciences programs, were examined to understand how religious beliefs and practices, measured using the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) and the brief scale of religious coping (RCOPE), influence levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings reveal significant associations between religiosity and mental health indicators. Higher levels of religiosity were associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Positive religious coping was linked to higher anxiety and stress, while its impact on depression was not significant. Negative religious coping was significantly associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. These results suggest that religiosity can serve as both a protective factor and a source of stress, depending on the coping mechanisms employed. The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive mental health interventions that incorporate an understanding of religious contexts. The nuanced effects of religious involvement on mental health underscore the need for targeted strategies to support the psychological well-being of students, emphasizing holistic approaches in university health programs. This research contributes to the broader discourse on mental health and religiosity, offering valuable insights for educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers in multicultural settings.