Positive attitude to religion as the anti-risk factor for infringements of student youth mental health

Abstract

Introduction. Influence of the factors of faith and religion on students' mental health was investigated. Aim. To reveal peculiarities of faith and religion as factors of mental health of medical university students. Material & method. The study comprised 325 students of the Grodno State Medical University who answered a specially developed questionnaire with questions of open type. The study was conducted in November of 2009. Results & Conclusions. Faith and religion take an important place in students' life. Mental health of students is at risk because of the pressure of life and studies. The process of adaptation to training in first-year students and the subsequent disappointment with the chosen course of life in students of older years of training negatively influences their mental health. Faith and religion help students to look at life with optimism, «to see the light in the end of the tunnel» in difficult vital situations - hence, they are factors of stability of mental health of youth.