Religious Involvement and Risk of Major Depression in a Prospective Nationwide Study of African American Adults

Christopher G. Ellison · Kevin J. Flannelly

125 citations0/0 files storedThe Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

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Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Religion and Society Interactions Mental Health Treatment and Access

Abstract

This study investigated the association between religious involvement and major depression in 607 African American adults, using longitudinal data from the National Survey of Black Americans. Logistic regression found that survey participants who reported receiving "a great deal" of guidance from religion in their day-to-day lives at Time 1 (1988-1989) were roughly half as likely (OR = 0.47, p < 0.01) to have major depression at Time 2 (1992), controlling for sociodemographic and psychological factors, and major depression at baseline. The odds of major depression were also lower for persons with high self-esteem (OR = 0.41, p < 0.01) and those who reported having satisfying relationships with friends and family members (OR = 0.51, p < 0.05) at baseline. No association was found between religious attendance or church support and major depression. The possible mechanisms through which religious involvement may protect against depression, especially among African Americans, are discussed.

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References

1981National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule 2004Social Relationships and Health.2004Handbook of Religion and Health 2001Handbook of Religion and Health 1998The Religion-Health Connection: Evidence, Theory, and Future Directions 2007Prevalence and Distribution of Major Depressive Disorder in African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites 2003Religiousness and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events.2003Religiosity and Mental Health: A Meta–Analysis of Recent Studies

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