Why Church Attendance is Difficult for Children with Common Mental Health Conditions and Their Families

Why Church Attendance is Difficult for Children with Common Mental Health Conditions and Their Families

Grcevich S

Journal of Psychology and Christianity

2021

Children and adolescents with mental health conditions are less likely to attend religious services than unaffected youth. Depression is associated with a 73% reduction in the likelihood of attending a worship service, while the presence of disruptive behavior disorders, anxiety disorders, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are associated with 55%, 45% and 19% reductions, respectively. In this paper, we hypothesize lower rates of church attendance result from functional limitations associated with mental health conditions that make entry into a church difficult. Children and youth with mental disorders experience more difficulty meeting common expectations for social interaction and self-control in worship services, small groups, Christian education, service activities, and other church functions. Given the heritability of these conditions, their parents often experience similar challenges engaging in ministry activities. We propose a mental health inclusion model for use in churches of all sizes and denominations. The model facilitates recognition of common barriers to church engagement and assimilation and application of inclusion strategies across ministry activities and environments offered to all.

mental health, church, inclusion, children, families

journalArticle

Copyright 2021 Christian Association for Psychological Studies ISSN 0733-4273

50-60

1

40

0733-4273

NEOMED College of Medicine

Department of Psychiatry

N/A

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3312-6625