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Tyler J Vanderweele - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Religious Service attendance and implications for clinical care community participation and public health
2021Co-Authors: Tyler J Vanderweele, Tracy A Balboni, Howard K KohAbstract:We review the evidence concerning associations between Religious Service attendance and subsequent health and well-being outcomes. The evidence-base for a link between Religious Service attendance and health has increased substantially over the past two decades. The interpretation and implications of this research require careful consideration. It would be inappropriate to universally promote Service attendance solely on the grounds of the associations with health. Nevertheless, a more nuanced approach, both within clinical care and within public health, may be possible - one that encouraged participation in Religious community for those who already positively self-identified with a Religious or spiritual tradition, and encouraged other forms of community participation for those who did not. Discussion is given to potential future research directions, and the challenges and opportunities for public health community promotion efforts.
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Religious Service attendance and subsequent health and well being throughout adulthood evidence from three prospective cohorts
2021Co-Authors: Ying Chen, Eric S Kim, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Background Religious-Service attendance has been linked with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, suicide and depression. Yet, its associations with other health and well-being outcomes remain less clear. Methods Using longitudinal data from three large prospective cohorts in the USA, this study examined the association between Religious-Service attendance and a wide range of subsequent physical health, health-behaviour, psychological distress and psychological well-being outcomes in separate cohorts of young, middle-aged and older adults. All analyses adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, prior health status and prior values of the outcome variables whenever data were available. Bonferroni correction was used to correct for multiple testing. Results Estimates combining data across cohorts suggest that, compared with those who never attended Religious Services, individuals who attended Services at least once per week had a lower risk of all-cause mortality by 26% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65 to 0.84], heavy drinking by 34% (95% CI: 0.59 to 0.73) and current smoking by 29% (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.80). Service attendance was also inversely associated with a number of psychological-distress outcomes (i.e. depression, anxiety, hopelessness, loneliness) and was positively associated with psychosocial well-being outcomes (i.e. positive affect, life satisfaction, social integration, purpose in life), but was generally not associated with subsequent disease, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. Conclusions Decisions on Religious participation are generally not shaped principally by health. Nevertheless, for individuals who already hold Religious beliefs, Religious-Service attendance may be a meaningful form of social integration that potentially relates to greater longevity, healthier behaviours, better mental health and greater psychosocial well-being.
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effects of Religious Service attendance and Religious importance on depression examining the meta analytic evidence
2021Co-Authors: Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Garssen et al. provide meta-analytic evidence, from longitudinal studies with control for baseline outcomes, for protective associations of Religious Service attendance and Religious importance wit...
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Religious Service attendance and deaths related to drugs alcohol and suicide among us health care professionals
2020Co-Authors: Ying Chen, Howard K Koh, Ichiro Kawachi, Michael Botticelli, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Importance The increase in deaths related to drugs, alcohol, and suicide (referred to asdeaths from despair) has been identified as a public health crisis. The antecedents associated with these deaths have, however, seldom been investigated empirically. Objective To prospectively examine the association between Religious Service attendance and deaths from despair. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study used data extracted from self-reported questionnaires and medical records of 66 492 female registered nurses who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) from 2001 through 2017 and 43 141 male health care professionals (eg, dentist, pharmacist, optometrist, osteopath, podiatrist, and veterinarian) who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) from 1988 through 2014. Data on causes of death were obtained from death certificates and medical records. Data analysis was conducted from September 2, 2018, to July 14, 2019. Exposure Religious Service attendance was self-reported at study baseline in response to the question, “How often do you go to Religious meetings or Services?” Main Outcomes and Measures Deaths from despair, defined specifically as deaths from suicide, unintentional poisoning by alcohol or drug overdose, and chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of deaths from despair by Religious Service attendance at study baseline, with adjustment for baseline sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, psychological distress, medical history, and other aspects of social integration. Results Among the 66 492 female participants in NHSII (mean [SD] age, 46.33 [4.66] years), 75 incident deaths from despair were identified (during 1 039 465 person-years of follow-up). Among the 43 141 male participants in HPFS (mean [SD] age, 55.12 [9.53] years), there were 306 incident deaths from despair (during 973 736 person-years of follow-up). In the fully adjusted models, compared with those who never attended Religious Services, participants who attended Services at least once per week had a 68% lower hazard (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.62) of death from despair in NHSII and a 33% lower hazard (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.94) of death from despair in HPFS. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that Religious Service attendance is associated with a lower risk of death from despair among health care professionals. These results may be important in understanding trends in deaths from despair in the general population.
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Religious Service attendance Religious coping and risk of hypertension in women participating in the nurses health study ii
2020Co-Authors: Tyler J Vanderweele, Nicholas Spence, Maryam S Farvid, Erica T Warner, Shelley S Tworoger, Austin M Argentieri, Alexandra E ShieldsAbstract:The association between Religious Service attendance, Religious coping, and hypertension is unclear. Prospective research and assessment of potential mediators is needed to understand this relationship. From 2001-2013, we prospectively followed 44,281 nonhypertensive women who provided information on Religious Service attendance and Religious coping in the Nurses' Health Study II. Cox regression and mediation analyses were conducted to assess associations between religion and hypertension. There were 453,706 person-years of follow-up and 11,773 incident hypertension cases. Women who attended Religious Services were less likely to develop hypertension. In the fully adjusting model, compared with women who never or almost never attend Religious meetings or Services, women attending less than once per month (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91, 1.03), 1-3 times per month (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88, 1.00), once per week (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.98), or more than once per week (HR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86, 0.97) showed a decreased risk of hypertension (P for trend = 0.001). Body mass index was an important mediator (11.5%; P < 0.001). Religious coping had a marginal association with hypertension. In conclusion, Religious Service attendance was modestly associated with hypertension in an inverse dose-response manner and partially mediated through body mass index. Future research is needed on biological or social reasons for the lower risk of hypertension.
Linda M Chatters - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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differences between african americans and non hispanic whites utilization of clergy for counseling with serious personal problems
2017Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Amanda Toler Woodward, Tina L Peterson, Amy S B Bohnert, Robert Joseph Taylor, Brian E PerronAbstract:There is a paradox in research on African Americans and non-Hispanic whites in the utilization of clergy. Research finds that African Americans have higher levels of Religious Service attendance and higher levels of contact with clergy. Research also finds that despite this, African Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to seek out assistance from clergy for psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. The goal of this paper was to investigate race differences in the use of clergy for counseling for serious personal problems. It uses the National Survey of American Life. We find that non-Hispanic whites were more likely than African Americans to use clergy for a serious personal problem. The significant difference between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites appeared to be mediated by the fact that African Americans were more likely to have seen clergy in a Religious setting and non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have seen clergy in other settings including hospitals.
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Religious involvement and dsm iv 12 month and lifetime major depressive disorder among african americans
2012Co-Authors: Robert Joseph Taylor, Linda M Chatters, Jamie M AbelsonAbstract:This study explores relationships between lifetime and 12 month DSM-IV major depressive disorder and Religious involvement within a nationally representative sample of African American adults (n=3,570). MDD was assessed using the DSM-IV World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI). Multivariate findings indicate that reading Religious materials was positively associated with 12 month (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.001 - 1.29) and lifetime MDD (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.03 - 1.21), Religious Service attendance was inversely associated with 12 month and lifetime MDD, and Religious coping was inversely associated with 12 month MDD (OR=0.75, 95% CI=.57 - 0.99). Findings are discussed in relation to the role of religion for African American mental health, prior research on the effects of Religious involvement on physical and mental health, and theoretical and conceptual models of religion-health connections that specify multiple and often divergent pathways (e.g., prevention, resource mobilization) by which diverse forms of Religious involvement impact mental health.
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Religious involvement and obsessive compulsive disorder among african americans and black caribbeans
2012Co-Authors: Joseph A Himle, Robert Joseph Taylor, Linda M ChattersAbstract:Abstract Prior research is equivocal concerning the relationships between Religious involvement and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The literature indicates limited evidence of denomination differences in prevalence of OCD whereas findings regarding OCD and degree of religiosity are equivocal. This study builds on prior research by examining OCD in relation to diverse measures of Religious involvement within the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative sample of African American and Black Caribbean adults. Bivariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regression) examine the relationship between lifetime prevalence of OCD and Religious denomination, Service attendance, non-organizational religiosity (e.g., prayer, Religious media) subjective religiosity, and Religious coping. Frequent Religious Service attendance was negatively associated with OCD, whereas Catholic affiliation (as compared to Baptist) and Religious coping (prayer when dealing with stressful situations) were both positively associated with OCD. With regard to demographic factors, persons of older age and higher education levels were significantly less likely to have OCD.
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Religious participation and dsm iv disorders among older african americans findings from the national survey of american life
2008Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Amanda Toler Woodward, Robert Joseph Taylor, Kai Mckeever Bullard, Harold W Neighbors, James S JacksonAbstract:Objectives This study examined the Religious correlates of psychiatric disorders. Design The analysis is based on the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). The African American sample of the NSAL is a national representative sample of households with at least one African American adult 18 years or over. This study uses the older African American subsample (N = 837). Methods Religious correlates of selected measures of lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) psychiatric disorders (i.e., panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar I & II disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, and drug abuse/dependence) were examined. Participants Data from 837 African Americans aged 55 years or older are used in this analysis. Measurement The DSM-IV World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess mental disorders. Measures of functional status (i.e., mobility and self-care) were assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-Second Version. Measures of organizational, nonorganizational and subjective Religious involvement, number of doctor diagnosed physical health conditions, and demographic factors were assessed. Results Multivariate analysis found that Religious Service attendance was significantly and inversely associated with the odds of having a lifetime mood disorder. Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the relationship between Religious participation and serious mental disorders among a national sample of older African Americans. The inverse relationship between Religious Service attendance and mood disorders is discussed. Implications for mental health treatment underscore the importance of assessing Religious orientations to render more culturally sensitive care.
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african american Religious participation a multi sample comparison
1999Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Robert Joseph Taylor, Karen D LincolnAbstract:Sociodemographic correlates of Religious participation among African Americans are examined using data from seven national probability surveys. Dependent variables included indicators of organizational (i.e., Religious Service attendance), nonorganizational (e.g., frequency of prayer, frequency of reading Religious materials, watching/listening to Religious programming), and subjective (e.g., spiritual comfort and support, importance of Religious or spiritual beliefs, importance of religion) Religious participation. Regression analyses indicate that Religious participation varies systematically by gender, age, region, marital status, and denominational affiliation. The findings are discussed in relation to research on Religious participation among African Americans.
Shanshan Li - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Religious Service attendance divorce and remarriage among u s nurses in mid and late life
2018Co-Authors: Shanshan Li, Laura D Kubzansky, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Prior research has suggested Religious participation can promote marital satisfaction and stability. However, current literature has mainly focused on early life divorce, and used cross-sectional data, leaving open the question of the directionality of effects. We evaluated the prospective associations between Service attendance and marital stability in mid and late life considering either 1) divorce or separation; or 2) remarriage, as separate outcomes. Data were drawn from the Nurses’ Health Study, a large prospective cohort study that consisted of US female nurses in their 50s at study enrollment, with repeated measures of Service attendance and marital status over 14 years of follow-up from 1996–2010. During follow up, among 66,444 initially married nurses who were mainly Christians, frequent Service attendance was associated with 50% lower risk of divorce (95% CI: 32%, 63%), and 52% lower risk of either divorce or separation (95%CI: 37%, 63%). Among initially divorced or separated women, frequent Service attendance was not associated with subsequent likelihood of remarriage; however, among widowed women, women who attended Services frequently had 49% increased likelihood of remarriage (95% CI: 13%, 97%) compared to those women who did not. The study provides evidence that in this cohort of US nurses, frequent Service attendance is associated with lower risk of becoming divorced in mid- and late- life, and increased likelihood of remarriage among widowed nurses, but not among divorced or separated nurses.
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Religious Service attendance divorce and remarriage among u s women
2016Co-Authors: Shanshan Li, Laura D Kubzansky, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Religious participation can promote marital satisfaction and stability. However, current literature has mainly used cross-sectional data. We prospectively evaluated the associations between Service attendance and either 1) divorce or separation; or 2) remarriage in the Nurses’ Health Study, a large prospective cohort study that consisted of US married female nurses, with repeated measures of Service attendance and marital status. During 14 years of follow up, among 66,444 married nurses, frequent Services attendance was associated with 50% lower risk of divorce (95% CI: 32%, 63%). Among divorced or separated women, frequent Service attendance was not associated with likelihood of remarriage; however, among widowed women, frequent Service attendance was associated with a 49% increased likelihood of remarriage (95% CI: 13%, 97%). The study provides evidence that frequent Services attendance is associated with lower risk of becoming divorced, and increased likelihood of remarriage among widowed women, but not among divorced or separated women.
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causal inference and longitudinal data a case study of religion and mental health
2016Co-Authors: Tyler J Vanderweele, John W Jackson, Shanshan LiAbstract:We provide an introduction to causal inference with longitudinal data and discuss the complexities of analysis and interpretation when exposures can vary over time. We consider what types of causal questions can be addressed with the standard regression-based analyses and what types of covariate control and control for the prior values of outcome and exposure must be made to reason about causal effects. We also consider newer classes of causal models, including marginal structural models, that can assess questions of the joint effects of time-varying exposures and can take into account feedback between the exposure and outcome over time. Such feedback renders cross-sectional data ineffective for drawing inferences about causation. The challenges are illustrated by analyses concerning potential effects of Religious Service attendance on depression, in which there may in fact be effects in both directions with Service attendance preventing the subsequent depression, but depression itself leading to lower levels of the subsequent Religious Service attendance. Longitudinal designs, with careful control for prior exposures, outcomes, and confounders, and suitable methodology, will strengthen research on mental health, religion and health, and in the biomedical and social sciences generally.
Robert Joseph Taylor - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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differences between african americans and non hispanic whites utilization of clergy for counseling with serious personal problems
2017Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Amanda Toler Woodward, Tina L Peterson, Amy S B Bohnert, Robert Joseph Taylor, Brian E PerronAbstract:There is a paradox in research on African Americans and non-Hispanic whites in the utilization of clergy. Research finds that African Americans have higher levels of Religious Service attendance and higher levels of contact with clergy. Research also finds that despite this, African Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to seek out assistance from clergy for psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. The goal of this paper was to investigate race differences in the use of clergy for counseling for serious personal problems. It uses the National Survey of American Life. We find that non-Hispanic whites were more likely than African Americans to use clergy for a serious personal problem. The significant difference between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites appeared to be mediated by the fact that African Americans were more likely to have seen clergy in a Religious setting and non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have seen clergy in other settings including hospitals.
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Religious involvement and dsm iv 12 month and lifetime major depressive disorder among african americans
2012Co-Authors: Robert Joseph Taylor, Linda M Chatters, Jamie M AbelsonAbstract:This study explores relationships between lifetime and 12 month DSM-IV major depressive disorder and Religious involvement within a nationally representative sample of African American adults (n=3,570). MDD was assessed using the DSM-IV World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI). Multivariate findings indicate that reading Religious materials was positively associated with 12 month (OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.001 - 1.29) and lifetime MDD (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.03 - 1.21), Religious Service attendance was inversely associated with 12 month and lifetime MDD, and Religious coping was inversely associated with 12 month MDD (OR=0.75, 95% CI=.57 - 0.99). Findings are discussed in relation to the role of religion for African American mental health, prior research on the effects of Religious involvement on physical and mental health, and theoretical and conceptual models of religion-health connections that specify multiple and often divergent pathways (e.g., prevention, resource mobilization) by which diverse forms of Religious involvement impact mental health.
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Religious involvement and obsessive compulsive disorder among african americans and black caribbeans
2012Co-Authors: Joseph A Himle, Robert Joseph Taylor, Linda M ChattersAbstract:Abstract Prior research is equivocal concerning the relationships between Religious involvement and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The literature indicates limited evidence of denomination differences in prevalence of OCD whereas findings regarding OCD and degree of religiosity are equivocal. This study builds on prior research by examining OCD in relation to diverse measures of Religious involvement within the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative sample of African American and Black Caribbean adults. Bivariate and multivariate analyses (logistic regression) examine the relationship between lifetime prevalence of OCD and Religious denomination, Service attendance, non-organizational religiosity (e.g., prayer, Religious media) subjective religiosity, and Religious coping. Frequent Religious Service attendance was negatively associated with OCD, whereas Catholic affiliation (as compared to Baptist) and Religious coping (prayer when dealing with stressful situations) were both positively associated with OCD. With regard to demographic factors, persons of older age and higher education levels were significantly less likely to have OCD.
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Religious participation and dsm iv disorders among older african americans findings from the national survey of american life
2008Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Amanda Toler Woodward, Robert Joseph Taylor, Kai Mckeever Bullard, Harold W Neighbors, James S JacksonAbstract:Objectives This study examined the Religious correlates of psychiatric disorders. Design The analysis is based on the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). The African American sample of the NSAL is a national representative sample of households with at least one African American adult 18 years or over. This study uses the older African American subsample (N = 837). Methods Religious correlates of selected measures of lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) psychiatric disorders (i.e., panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar I & II disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, and drug abuse/dependence) were examined. Participants Data from 837 African Americans aged 55 years or older are used in this analysis. Measurement The DSM-IV World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess mental disorders. Measures of functional status (i.e., mobility and self-care) were assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-Second Version. Measures of organizational, nonorganizational and subjective Religious involvement, number of doctor diagnosed physical health conditions, and demographic factors were assessed. Results Multivariate analysis found that Religious Service attendance was significantly and inversely associated with the odds of having a lifetime mood disorder. Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the relationship between Religious participation and serious mental disorders among a national sample of older African Americans. The inverse relationship between Religious Service attendance and mood disorders is discussed. Implications for mental health treatment underscore the importance of assessing Religious orientations to render more culturally sensitive care.
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african american Religious participation a multi sample comparison
1999Co-Authors: Linda M Chatters, Robert Joseph Taylor, Karen D LincolnAbstract:Sociodemographic correlates of Religious participation among African Americans are examined using data from seven national probability surveys. Dependent variables included indicators of organizational (i.e., Religious Service attendance), nonorganizational (e.g., frequency of prayer, frequency of reading Religious materials, watching/listening to Religious programming), and subjective (e.g., spiritual comfort and support, importance of Religious or spiritual beliefs, importance of religion) Religious participation. Regression analyses indicate that Religious participation varies systematically by gender, age, region, marital status, and denominational affiliation. The findings are discussed in relation to research on Religious participation among African Americans.
Ichiro Kawachi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Religious Service attendance and deaths related to drugs alcohol and suicide among us health care professionals
2020Co-Authors: Ying Chen, Howard K Koh, Ichiro Kawachi, Michael Botticelli, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Importance The increase in deaths related to drugs, alcohol, and suicide (referred to asdeaths from despair) has been identified as a public health crisis. The antecedents associated with these deaths have, however, seldom been investigated empirically. Objective To prospectively examine the association between Religious Service attendance and deaths from despair. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study used data extracted from self-reported questionnaires and medical records of 66 492 female registered nurses who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) from 2001 through 2017 and 43 141 male health care professionals (eg, dentist, pharmacist, optometrist, osteopath, podiatrist, and veterinarian) who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) from 1988 through 2014. Data on causes of death were obtained from death certificates and medical records. Data analysis was conducted from September 2, 2018, to July 14, 2019. Exposure Religious Service attendance was self-reported at study baseline in response to the question, “How often do you go to Religious meetings or Services?” Main Outcomes and Measures Deaths from despair, defined specifically as deaths from suicide, unintentional poisoning by alcohol or drug overdose, and chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of deaths from despair by Religious Service attendance at study baseline, with adjustment for baseline sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, psychological distress, medical history, and other aspects of social integration. Results Among the 66 492 female participants in NHSII (mean [SD] age, 46.33 [4.66] years), 75 incident deaths from despair were identified (during 1 039 465 person-years of follow-up). Among the 43 141 male participants in HPFS (mean [SD] age, 55.12 [9.53] years), there were 306 incident deaths from despair (during 973 736 person-years of follow-up). In the fully adjusted models, compared with those who never attended Religious Services, participants who attended Services at least once per week had a 68% lower hazard (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.62) of death from despair in NHSII and a 33% lower hazard (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48-0.94) of death from despair in HPFS. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that Religious Service attendance is associated with a lower risk of death from despair among health care professionals. These results may be important in understanding trends in deaths from despair in the general population.
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association between Religious Service attendance and lower suicide rates among us women
2016Co-Authors: Tyler J Vanderweele, Alexander C Tsai, Ichiro KawachiAbstract:Importance Previous studies have linked suicide risk with Religious participation, but the majority have used ecologic, cross-sectional, or case-control data. Objective To examine the longitudinal association between Religious Service attendance and suicide and the joint associations of suicide with Service attendance and Religious affiliation. Design, Setting, and Participants We evaluated associations between Religious Service attendance and suicide from 1996 through June 2010 in a large, long-term prospective cohort, the Nurses’ Health Study, in an analysis that included 89 708 women. Religious Service attendance was self-reported in 1992 and 1996. Data analysis was conducted from 1996 through 2010. Main Outcomes and Measures Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association between Religious Service attendance and suicide, adjusting for demographic covariates, lifestyle factors, medical history, depressive symptoms, and social integration measures. We performed sensitivity analyses to examine the influence of unmeasured confounding. Results Among 89 708 women aged 30 to 55 years who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study, attendance at Religious Services once per week or more was associated with an approximately 5-fold lower rate of suicide compared with never attending Religious Services (hazard ratio, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.06-0.46). Service attendance once or more per week vs less frequent attendance was associated with a hazard ratio of 0.05 (95% CI, 0.006-0.48) for Catholics but only 0.34 (95% CI, 0.10-1.10) for Protestants (P = .05 for heterogeneity). Results were robust in sensitivity analysis and to exclusions of persons who were previously depressed or had a history of cancer or cardiovascular disease. There was evidence that social integration, depressive symptoms, and alcohol consumption partially mediated the association among those occasionally attending Services, but not for those attending frequently. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort of US women, frequent Religious Service attendance was associated with a significantly lower rate of suicide.
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Religious Service attendance and lower depression among women a prospective cohort study
2016Co-Authors: Shunchiao Chang, Olivia I Okereke, Ichiro Kawachi, Tyler J VanderweeleAbstract:Previous studies on the association between Religious Service attendance and depression have been mostly cross-sectional, subject to reverse causation, and did not account for the potential feedback between Religious Service attendance and depression. We prospectively evaluated evidence whether Religious Service attendance decreased risk of subsequent risk of depression and whether depression increased subsequent cessation of Service attendance, while explicitly accounting for feedback with potential effects in both directions. We included a total of 48,984 US nurses who were participants of the Nurses’ Health Study with mean age 58 years and who were followed up from 1996 to 2008. Religious Service attendance was self-reported in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Depression was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed clinical depression, regular anti-depressant use, or severe depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression and marginal structural models were used to estimate the odds ratio of developing incident depression, adjusted for baseline Religious Service attendance, baseline depression, and time-varying covariates. Compared with women who never attended Services, women who had most frequent and recent Religious Service attendance had the lowest risk of developing depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.62–0.82). Compared with women who were not depressed, women with depression were less likely to subsequently attend Religious Services once or more per week (OR = 0.74, 95 % CI 0.68–0.80). In this study of US women, there is evidence that higher frequency of Religious Service attendance decreased the risk of incident depression and women with depression were less likely to subsequently attend Services.
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Religious Service attendance and allostatic load among high functioning elderly
2007Co-Authors: Joanna Maselko, Laura D Kubzansky, Ichiro Kawachi, Teresa E Seeman, Lisa F BerkmanAbstract:OBJECTIVE To examine the association between frequency of Religious Service attendance and an index of cumulative physiological dysregulation as measured by allostatic load (AL) (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist/hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, cortisol, serum dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). There is growing empirical evidence of a positive relationship between Religious engagement and better clinical health outcomes. However, studies exploring the subclinical levels of physiological dysregulation are rare; hence, the physiological processes underpinning the religion-health relationship are not well understood. METHODS In 1988, 853 participants from the MacArthur Successful Aging Study provided information on the frequency of Religious Service attendance as well as blood and urine samples needed to obtain measures for a ten-item cumulative AL index. Gender-stratified multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the direction and magnitude of the association between weekly Religious Service attendance and AL. RESULTS At least weekly Religious Service attendance was associated with lower AL levels among women (b = -0.47; p < .01), but not among men (b = 0.02; p = .88) in models that statistically controlled for age, income, education, marital status, and level of physical functioning. This relationship could not be attributed to the association between Religious attendance and any one or two of the components of the AL index. It also was not explained by either higher physical functioning or social integration. CONCLUSION Cumulative physiological dysregulation may be one mechanism through which Religious engagement may influence a diverse range of clinically relevant health outcomes.
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Religious Service attendance and decline in pulmonary function in a high functioning elderly cohort
2006Co-Authors: Joanna Maselko, Laura D Kubzansky, Ichiro Kawachi, John Staudenmayer, Lisa F BerkmanAbstract:Background: Pulmonary function is an important indicator of respiratory and overall health, yet little is known about the psychosocial factors that predict pulmonary function itself. At the same time, Religious activity is emerging as a potential health promoting factor, especially among the elderly. Whether there is a connection between Religious activity and pulmonary function is unknown.Purpose: In this study, we sought to examine the association between Religious attendance and rate of decline in pulmonary function.Methods: The sample consisted of 1,174 healthy elderly persons enrolled in the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging who were followed for an average of 4.6 years. Information on frequency of Religious Service attendance and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was collected over 3 waves. A linear mixed model with repeated measures was used to compare rate of decline in PEFR between those who attended Religious Services regularly and those who did not.Results: Regular Religious Service attendance was associated with a slower pulmonary function decline among men (by 3.71 L/min per year, p = .02) and women (by 3.27 L/min per year, p = .02), compared to those who never attend Services. The findings could not be explained by differences in smoking or physical activity.Conclusions: Overall findings support the hypothesis that Religious activity may play a protective role in maintaining pulmonary health among the elderly.
