title: Religious involvement is associated with greater purpose, optimism, generosity and gratitude in persons with major depression and chronic medical illness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Religious involvement may help individuals with chronic medical illness cope better with physical disability and other life changes. We examine the relationships between religiosity, depressive symptoms, and positive emotions in persons with major depression and chronic illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  129 persons who were at least somewhat religious/spiritual were recruited into a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of religious vs. secular cognitive behavioral therapy. Reported here are the relationships at baseline between religious involvement and depressive symptoms, purpose in life, optimism, generosity, and gratefulness using standard measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although religiosity was unrelated to depressive symptoms (F=0.96, p=0.43) and did not buffer the disability-depression relationship (B=-1.56, SE 2.90, p=0.59), strong relationships were found between religious indicators and greater purpose, optimism, generosity, and gratefulness (F=7.08, p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although unrelated to depressive symptoms in the setting of major depression and chronic medical illness, higher religious involvement is associated with positive emotions, a finding which may influence the course of depression over time.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States; Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Harold.Koenig@duke.edu.
authors: Harold G
authors: HG
authors: Koenig
authors: School of Allied Health Professions, Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors: Lee S
authors: LS
authors: Berk
authors: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Population Medicine, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors: Noha S
authors: NS
authors: Daher
authors: Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States.
authors: Michelle J
authors: MJ
authors: Pearce
authors: Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors: Denise L
authors: DL
authors: Bellinger
authors: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors: Clive J
authors: CJ
authors: Robins
authors: Department of Research, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA, United States.
authors: Bruce
authors: B
authors: Nelson
authors: Department of Research, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA, United States.
authors: Sally F
authors: SF
authors: Shaw
authors: Department of Medicine, Center for Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors: Harvey Jay
authors: HJ
authors: Cohen
authors: Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: King
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D057566:Self Report; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Generosity; Gratitude; Major depression; Optimism; Purpose in life; Religiosity