Religion, Mental Health and the Latter-Day Saints

by Daniel K. Judd (Editor)

Fourteen studies are collected in this book, representative of the best of scholarship in the field. In his research, Prof. Judd has identified 58 studies of religion and mental health that focus on Latter-day Saint samples. The vast majority of the research refutes negative anecdotal writing concerning Latter-day Saint mental health. Several chapters focus on LDS women. In their studies, Spendlove, West, and Stanish compared samples of LDS and non-LDS women in Utah and found no difference in the prevalence of depression. Heaton and Goodman found that Latter-day Saints have larger families, higher rates of marriage and fertility, and lower divorce rates than Catholic and Protestant samples. The studies published in this book suggest a clear, positive relationship between religion and mental well-being.

318 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999