Religion and Spirituality in Pediatric Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Research Trends and Themes in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2000-2023)
Khalid Elzamzamy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Sadiq Naveed, Department of Psychiatry, Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester, CT; and Mary Lynn Dell, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Living/Hartford Healthcare, Hartford, CT
Religion and spirituality (R/S) play crucial roles in meaning-making and coping for many children, adolescents, and their families. Although the influence of R/S on mental health has been increasingly studied, its specific role in pediatric mental health remains underexplored. This study investigates research trends and predominant themes in R/S within child and adolescent psychiatry by analyzing articles published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) from 2000 to 2023. This analysis offers insights into the prominence of R/S in the field and highlights areas for future research focus.
Methods
We systematically retrieved, screened, and reviewed all research and review articles published in JAACAP between 2000-2023 that included R/S content. Articles were categorized based on the extent of their focus on R/S (major, minor, or incidental), and R/S-related variables and themes were identified and analyzed.
Results
Thirty-two articles met our inclusion criteria, with only four articles presenting R/S as a primary focus. The findings reveal a general decline in R/S-related publications over the last two decades. A variety of R/S variables were examined, with religious attendance and affiliation as the most commonly studied. Predominant themes in the literature included relationships between R/S and psychopathology, suicide, service utilization, illness conceptualization, trauma, identity, and coping.
Discussion
Although R/S is a significant factor for many youths and families, it remains an underrepresented area in pediatric mental health research. The limited focus on R/S factors within academic psychiatry may reflect broader trends in the field, where attention to these variables is scarce. As a leading journal in child psychiatry, JAACAP has the potential to catalyze further investigation in this domain by actively encouraging submissions on R/S topics. Such engagement could enhance diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic efforts in pediatric mental health, addressing the needs of young patients and their families more comprehensively.
Methods
We systematically retrieved, screened, and reviewed all research and review articles published in JAACAP between 2000-2023 that included R/S content. Articles were categorized based on the extent of their focus on R/S (major, minor, or incidental), and R/S-related variables and themes were identified and analyzed.
Results
Thirty-two articles met our inclusion criteria, with only four articles presenting R/S as a primary focus. The findings reveal a general decline in R/S-related publications over the last two decades. A variety of R/S variables were examined, with religious attendance and affiliation as the most commonly studied. Predominant themes in the literature included relationships between R/S and psychopathology, suicide, service utilization, illness conceptualization, trauma, identity, and coping.
Discussion
Although R/S is a significant factor for many youths and families, it remains an underrepresented area in pediatric mental health research. The limited focus on R/S factors within academic psychiatry may reflect broader trends in the field, where attention to these variables is scarce. As a leading journal in child psychiatry, JAACAP has the potential to catalyze further investigation in this domain by actively encouraging submissions on R/S topics. Such engagement could enhance diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic efforts in pediatric mental health, addressing the needs of young patients and their families more comprehensively.