RELIGION AND CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES OF PSYCHIATRIC VOICE HEARERS

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the relationship between childhood experiences of voice hearers and religion as an adult. Method: cross-sectional research with voice hearers from a Psychosocial Care Center in a city in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data collection occurred in 2019 using standardized questionnaires; for the variables on religion, the Duke Religious Index questionnaire was used. For data analysis, absolute frequencies, proportions, and bivariate analysis were used. Results: 112 people participated, of these, 66 reported hearing voices, 65% reported having religion, with a higher prevalence of evangelicals (n=31; 52%). Not having a pleasant childhood (78%), having experienced a stressful childhood (76%) and not having felt safe on the streets as a child (83%) were related to having religion as an adult. Conclusion: this study proposes a change in knowledge production and care in mental health that considers experience and religiosity.