Coping After the Fall: The Mental Health of Former Members of the Rajneeshpuram Commune
The effects of new religious movements on the mental health of their members are not well understood. In particular, the psychological aftereffects following disaffiliation are controversial. This study examined the psychological well-being of former members of the Rajneeshpuram commune, who relocat...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[1993]
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| In: |
The international journal for the psychology of religion
Year: 1993, Volume: 3, Issue: 2, Pages: 97-109 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | The effects of new religious movements on the mental health of their members are not well understood. In particular, the psychological aftereffects following disaffiliation are controversial. This study examined the psychological well-being of former members of the Rajneeshpuram commune, who relocated after the community disbanded. A mail survey was returned by 231 former Rajneeshpuram residents and 53 university alumni. Respondents reported a range of present involvement with the Rajneeshee movement. Despite numerous life changes, the Rajneeshees showed few signs of psychological distress as measured by depression (via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; Radloff, 1987) and as measured by anxiety and somatization (via the Symptoms Checklist; Derogatis, Lipman, & Covi, 1973). The Rajneeshee life style and belief system are posited as enhancing residents' coping abilities. |
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| ISSN: | 1532-7582 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The international journal for the psychology of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1207/s15327582ijpr0302_4 |