An Irish study highlighted on April 23 in the Irish Catholic suggests pupils who are religious cope significantly better with mental health challenges. Religious belief and practice are associated with higher levels of psychological wellbeing among Irish secondary school students, according to research conducted across 10 post-primary schools. The study examined how faith, religious coping and belief in God relate to resilience, purpose and emotional health among adolescents.
The research was carried out by Ms Mannion, a lecturer in education at Mary Immaculate College, and involved more than 100 students in Transition Year and senior cycle classes. It forms part of a growing body of international evidence examining the relationship between religion and mental health among young people.
