Depression, Anxiety, and Religious Life
- 30 September 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Health and Social Behavior
- Vol. 51 (3), 343-359
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146510378237
Abstract
We examine several potential mechanisms linking religious involvement to depressive symptoms, major depression, and anxiety. Logistic and OLS regression estimations test five sets of potential psychosocial religion mediators: perceived attitudes toward and motivations for attendance; positive and negative religious coping; religious attitudes, beliefs, and spirituality; congregational support and criticism; and interpersonal and self-forgiveness. Compared to attending services less than once a month or never, attending services once a week but no more is associated with fewer depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Hypothesized mediators, including meaning, interpersonal and self-forgiveness, congregational criticism, social attendance beliefs, and negative coping are independently associated with one or more mental health outcomes.Keywords
This publication has 67 references indexed in Scilit:
- Looking Inside the Black Box of “Attendance at Services”: New Measures for Exploring an Old Dimension in Religion and Health ResearchThe International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 2009
- Co-morbid major depression and generalized anxiety disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey follow-upPsychological Medicine, 2007
- Religion as a Meaning System: Implications for the New MillenniumJournal of Social Issues, 2005
- Religious Involvement, Stress, and Mental Health: Findings from the 1995 Detroit Area StudySocial Forces, 2001
- Religion and Health: Public Health Research and PracticeAnnual Review of Public Health, 2000
- Red flags and religious coping: Identifying some religious warning signs among people in crisisJournal of Clinical Psychology, 1998
- Forgiveness Education with Parentally Love‐deprived Late AdolescentsJournal of Moral Education, 1995
- Religious and nonreligious coping with the death of a friendCognitive Therapy and Research, 1993
- Religious Involvement and the Health of the Elderly: Some Hypotheses and an Initial TestSocial Forces, 1987
- The relationship between anxiety and depressionClinical Psychology Review, 1985