(CP) A latest study suggests that the mental health crisis within the United States could also be more closely related to an absence of a biblical worldview than to commonly cited causes like chemical imbalances.
The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University released the study Tuesday, attributing the rise in mental health issues, reminiscent of anxiety, depression and fear, to what researcher George Barna calls “worldview deficiencies” quite than “psychological or chemical imbalances.”
The findings are based on interviews conducted in January with 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 or older, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points on the 95% confidence level.
The report highlighted mental health struggles amongst younger generations, noting that 56% of Generation Z and 49% of millennials often experience anxiety, fear or depression. Generation Z refers back to the youngest group of American adults, while millennials are defined as those born between 1984 and 2002. In total, one in three adults from these generations has not less than one diagnosable mental disorder.
Barna sees a direct correlation between mental health challenges and the dearth of a biblical worldview, which the Cultural Research Center defines as “a method of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality in light of biblical perspectives.” The CRC evaluates a person’s biblical worldview based on their answers to a series of belief-related questions.
Only 1% of Generation Z and a couple of% of millennials possess a biblical worldview, in keeping with Barna. He commented that it’s “not unusual to search out a young adult who trusts feelings greater than facts, sees no inherent value to life, believes in Karma, and rejects the existence of the biblical God.”
“Add to this an absence of any sense of purpose or meaning, and the concept that truth is subjective,” Barna explained. “This common set of components ends in a life-style that’s inconsistent, chaotic, frustrating, and lacking hope. Anxiety, depression, and fear are virtually inescapable in such a life.”
Barna highlighted several beliefs he considers contributors to mental unrest amongst young people. Seven out of ten individuals under 40 said their life lacks a transparent purpose, while 4 out of 5 who reject God reported frequent experiences of fear and anxiety.
“The lifestyle that results from these common worldview components is considered one of chaos and fear,” Barna said. “However, embracing a biblical worldview offers a way of purpose, security, and peace that may alleviate a lot of these mental health challenges.”
Barna also pointed to syncretism — described as a “mix of conflicting beliefs drawn from various worldviews” — because the dominant worldview amongst young Americans, adding that it’s “not surprising that anxiety, depression and fear are rampant amongst young adults who adopt syncretism.”
“Without a solid foundation of truth, their lives turn into inconsistent and chaotic,” he said, emphasizing that “the biblical worldview, against this, provides a framework that fosters emotional stability.”
Barna acknowledged that some situations do require conventional mental health treatments, reminiscent of counselling, pharmaceuticals or physical therapy, but he said that other mental health struggles may stem from “worldview components that trigger and sustain the condition.”
“If people as a substitute embraced the core tenets of the biblical worldview, their lives wouldn’t be perfect,” Barna concluded, “but they might avoid lots of the emotional and psychological pitfalls we’re seeing today.”
The report also examined the mental health of people whose beliefs directly conflict with the biblical worldview. Among those disengaged from each political involvement and Christian faith, 82% reported frequent experiences of hysteria, depression and fear, in comparison with 67% of respondents who were more engaged.
Incidents of fear, anxiety and depression were higher (46%) amongst those that consider gifted mediums can communicate with the spirits of the dead, in comparison with 34% of those that don’t share this belief.
Similarly, 40% of respondents who consider “Mother Earth or the Universe” as a vital guide reported mental health challenges, in comparison with 25% who didn’t. Among individuals classified as “consistently liberal” on social and political issues, 38% experienced frequent anxiety, depression or fear, while only 22% of those that didn’t discover as consistently liberal reported the identical challenges.
