Depression is the second leading cause of disability in the world; isolating risk and protective factors can aid in reducing the prevalence of depression worldwide. One factor that has been reliably shown to increase the risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) is having one or more depressed parents. Curiously, some offspring with familial depression do not develop MDD, whereas others with no family history of depression develop it. Thus, there must be other predisposing factors in addition to genetic ones.
One variable that has been recently explored as a protective factor is religiosity/spirituality. (For simplicity, in this article I will not differentiate between religiosity and spirituality.) It is defined in some studies as believing in the importance of religion/spirituality and engaging in religious behaviors. This dimension is an influential factor that shapes the practicing person's cognitive processes. Many studies have demonstrated the positive effects of religiosity for depression.
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