Contribution of religion/spirituality and major depressive disorder to altruism

In most studies, religiosity and spirituality (R/S) are positively associated with altruism, whereas depression is negatively associated. However, the cross-sectional designs of these studies limit their epidemiological value. We examine the association of R/S and major depressive disorder (MDD) with altruism in a five year longitudinal study nested in a larger prospective study.

Depressed and non-depressed individuals and their first- and second-generation offspring were assessed over several decades. At Year30 after baseline, R/S was measured using participants' self-report; MDD, by clinical interview. At Year35, participants completed a measure of altruism. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression; statistical significance, set at p<.05. two-tailed.

In the overall sample, both R/S and MDD were significantly associated with altruism, AOR 2.52 (95% CI 1.15-5.49) and AOR 2.43 (95% CI 1.05-5.64), respectively; in the High Risk group alone, the corresponding AORs were 4.69 (95% CI 1.39-15.84) and 4.74 (95% CI 1.92-11.72). Among highly R/S people in the High Risk group, the AOR for MDD with altruism was 22.55 (95% CI 1.23-414.60) p<.04; among the remainder, it was 3.12 (95% CI 0.63-15.30), a substantial but non-significant difference.

Altruism is based on self-report, not observation, hence, vulnerable to bias.

MDD's positive association with elevated altruism concurs with studies of posttraumatic growth in finding developmental growth from adversity. The conditions that foster MDD's positive association with altruism and the contribution of R/S to this process requires further study.