A LEADING authority on the psychology of religion has spoken at Glyndwr University about how gender, religion and culture affect mental health.

Professor Kate Loewenthal was speaking as part of an enrichment week for students on Glyndwr’s Psychology degrees. As editor of the journal ‘Mental Health, Religion and Culture’, Professor Loewenthal – who is Emeritus Professor of Psychology in London University Royal Holloway College and Professor of Abnormal Psychology at New York University in London – is renowned for her research into the subject.

Her guest lecture – hosted in the university’s new Scale-Up teaching space – looked at how the interplay between various facets of religion can impact upon the mental health of individuals.

Professor Loewenthal said: “Although religious activity usually goes along with higher well-being, the lecture focused on issues which could be damaging to the well-being of women – and which can be sanctified and strengthened by (often false) beliefs that these things are religiously desirable.“

Josh Payne, Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “As a university, we are building our psychology research - with our new MSc in Applied Psychological Practice and MRes Psychology degrees currently being finalised – so it was great to welcome one of the leading researchers in her field to speak to our students.

“The ways in which religion and culture interact can have profound impacts upon mental health, and Kate’s lecture focussed particularly on the impacts that are felt by women.

“Her lecture considered difficult topics such as honour killings, female genital mutilation, and domestic violence. These were handled in a frank but sensitive manner which provoked much discussion with students.

“I’d like to thank Professor Loewenthal for her visit and for helping to make our enrichment week such a success.”