[Religious affiliation and mental health--is there a connection? Health survey in Finnmark 1990].

The Finnmark Health Study in 1990 included questions on both mental health and religious affiliation. 7,633 individuals were invited to take part in the study, and 4,387 (58%) answered the question about religious affiliation. Members of the Norwegian Church (Lutheran Evangelical) had the highest score on all mental health variables. The group without any connection with a religious organization (non-members) contained highest proportion of persons who were not content with their life (20%) and the highest proportion who had coping problems (11%). Non-members and members of the "Laestadianer" spiritual movement showed the highest proportion with insomnia (36%). The proportion using psychotropic drugs was highest among the members of the "Laestadianer" spiritual movement (13%), which also contained the highest proportion reporting low global health. Owing to its cross-sectional design, the present study is unable to establish the causal direction of the association between religious affiliation and mental health. Various aspects of some religious beliefs and practices can probably cause mental health problems, and persons with mental health problems may be attracted to certain religious groups. Only future follow-up studies can untangle and quantify these possible causal associations.