301P
Religiosity, Social Support and Depression Among Older African Americans
Despite relatively disadvantaged socioeconomic status and higher rates of morbidity and mortality for African Americans overall, older African Americans have been found to have higher positive psychological well-being than most groups when faced with stressful life situations. Religiosity mediated through social support is posited as a potential source of African American resilience in the wake of life stresses. Further research on the relationship between religiosity and health is needed to clarify the mediating effects of social support, particularly among high risk groups such as African Americans. This study will examine the relationship between religion, spirituality, and mental health status and the mediating role of social support in older African Americans in the South.
Research Questions:
1. What is the relationship between religiosity, spirituality and mental health status in older African Americans in the JHS?
2. Does social support mediate the relationship between religiosity, spirituality and mental health status in older African Americans in the JHS?
Methods:
This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from a larger cohort study. A total of 1303 participants over 65 year older were selected out of total 5,302 participants aged over 21 years who were recruited at baseline during 2000-2004. The parent study, The Jackson Heart Study (JHS) is a prospective, population-based cohort study designed to investigate risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African American men and women. The rationale of variable selection for the hierarchical regression analyses is conceptual in nature, addressing the hypothesized effects of religion and spirituality on depression including selected sociodemographic variables and chronic health condition.
Results:
Descriptive statistics revealed the relatively higher symptoms of depression (M = 10.20, SD = 6.84) measured by the CES-D. With cut-off score of 16, 14.6% of respondents might be classified as “depressed”. Ordinary least squared regression identified several significant predictors to the depressive symptoms: The negative associations with education (B = -.339, t = -3.094, p <.002) & Lubben social network scale (B = -.188, t = -2.067, p <.039) and positive relations with chronic condition (B = .299, t = 2.016, p <.044). However, there is no significant relationship between the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) and the depression (CES-D).
Discussion:
Our findings are inconsistent with previous studies in that the study failed to find the empirical evidence the relations between religiosity/spirituality and mental health. However, it partially supported the significant mediating role of social network to improved mental health condition. This study highlighted the enduring importance of supportive social relationships to psychological well-being among older African Americans.