title: Longitudinal relationships of religious worship attendance and spirituality with major depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation and attempts: findings from the Baltimore epidemiologic catchment area study.
abstract: We present findings on the longitudinal relationships of religious worship attendance and seeking spiritual comfort with subsequent major depression, anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation/attempts using data from Waves 3 and 4 of the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study (N = 1091). Respondents who attended religious services at least once per year had decreased odds of subsequent suicide attempts compared with those who did not attend religious services (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.84). Seeking spiritual comfort at baseline was associated with decreased odds of suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31-0.99). These finding were independent of the effects of the presence of the suicidal ideation/attempts, comorbid mental disorders, social supports and chronic physical conditions at baseline. These results suggest that religious attendance is possibly an independent protective factor against suicide attempts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. dn704128@dal.ca
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rasic
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: O Joseph
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bienvenu
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sareen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult