A recent examination of data from the Pew Research Center, accessed through the Association of Religion Data Archives, sheds light on whom Americans feel comfortable confiding in about their mental health. The findings reveal that spouses or partners are overwhelmingly the most trusted individuals across various religious affiliations, with comfort levels often nearing 80%. Notably, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) report even higher comfort, with nearly 90% willing to share mental health concerns with their spouse.
Beyond spouses, close friends, mental health professionals, and immediate family members are commonly trusted, though at lower rates, generally between 50% and 60%. Conversely, co-workers and neighbors rank lowest as confidants, indicating limited willingness to discuss personal struggles in those relationships.
The data also highlights differences in comfort discussing mental health with religious leaders. While only about a third of non-evangelical Protestants, Catholics, and LDS members feel comfortable speaking with clergy, 56% of evangelicals express this comfort, placing pastors on par with family and close friends. This distinction may relate to evangelicals’ higher frequency of church attendance, which correlates with greater openness toward clergy.
Comparisons between comfort levels with therapists and clergy show that most religious groups prefer mental health professionals. For example, 50% of Catholics feel comfortable with therapists, compared to 33% with priests; LDS members show a similar pattern. Evangelicals are an exception, slightly favoring pastors over therapists.
Church attendance influences comfort with clergy but has little effect on attitudes toward therapists. Frequent churchgoers across denominations are more likely to confide in religious leaders, while comfort with therapists remains relatively stable regardless of attendance.
Age plays a nuanced role. Younger evangelicals are more open to therapy than older cohorts, suggesting a gradual reduction in stigma. However, this trend is less consistent among other Christian groups.
Additional factors such as gender, race, education, income, and political affiliation also impact comfort levels. Men tend to be slightly less comfortable with therapists, while white respondents generally prefer therapists over clergy. Older individuals show greater openness to both.
Political affiliation emerges as a significant factor: Republicans are more comfortable discussing mental health with clergy but less so with therapists, a divide that persists even after accounting for religious attendance and evangelical identity. This suggests that political beliefs strongly influence preferences for mental health support sources.
These findings underscore the complexity of social support networks in the United States and highlight how religion, politics, and community engagement shape whom individuals trust during mental health challenges. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing the ongoing loneliness epidemic and improving access to effective support.