Religiosity and mental health in southern, community-dwelling older adults
- 1 September 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Aging & Mental Health
- Vol. 7 (5) , 390-397
- https://doi.org/10.1080/1360786031000150667
Abstract
This study considers potential interaction effects of three measures of religiosity, organized (OR), non-organized (NOR), and intrinsic religiosity (IR), on depression and general mental health, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and mobility. In-home interviews were conducted among a stratified random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from five central Alabama counties (the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging). Those who were high on all three dimensions of religiosity reported having fewer symptoms of depression and better mental health than did those who were low on all three dimensions of religiosity. Subjects who scored high on OR reported lower levels of depression (F (1, 981) = 3.97, pF (1, 981) = 9.02, pF (1, 981) = 5.46, p<0.05, for GDS and MCS respectively). The presence of interaction effects between the different dimensions of religiosity and mental health affirms the importance of remaining sensitive to the multidimensional nature of religiousness and its relationships with measures of mental health.Keywords
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