title: Religiosity buffers effects of some stressors on depression but exacerbates others.
abstract: Although religiosity is protective for mortality and morbidity, its relationship with depression is unclear. We used the 1994 Alameda County Study survey of 2,537 subjects aged 50-102 to analyze associations between two forms of religiosity and depression as well as the extent to which religiosity buffers relationships between stressors and depression. Non-organizational religiosity included prayer and importance of religious and spiritual beliefs; organizational religiosity included attendance at services and other activities. Non-organizational religiosity had no association with depression; organizational religiosity had a negative relationship that weakened slightly with the addition of health controls. Both forms of religiosity buffered associations with depression for non-family stressors, such as financial and health problems. However, non-organizational religiosity exacerbated associations with depression for child problems, and organizational religiosity exacerbated associations with depression for marital problems, abuse, and caregiving. Religiosity may help those experiencing non-family stressors, but may worsen matters for those facing family crises.
authors.affiliation: Human Population Laboratory, Public Health Institute, Berkeley, California, USA. wjstraw@aol.com
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Strawbridge
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shema
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological