An Analysis of the Therapeutic Elements in a Black Church Service

The moderating role of gender in the relationship between religiosity and mental health in a sample of black American college students

“…One explanation may be related to certain expressions of the black church and black worship services that have been described as emphasising a high degree of emotional expression (Griffith, Young, & Smith, 1984;McCrae, Carey, & Anderson-Scott, 1998). Emotional expression can be verbal or nonverbal behaviour that communicates some type of emotional experience (Kennedy-Moore & Watson, 1999).…”

Religious Involvement, Stress, and Mental Health: Findings from the 1995 Detroit Area Study

“…These routine affirmations of faith may be crucial for strengthening personal religious plausibility structures, through which significance and meaning may be ascribed to mundane daily affairs and major life traumas alike (Antonovsky 1987;Ellison 1991;Idler 1987). In addition, some observers suspect that specific mental health benefits may be associated with certain worship styles, such as those that involve singing, shouting, and physical activity and those that encourage emotional catharsis (Gilkes 1980;Griffith, Young & Smith 1984;Gritzmacher, Bolton & Dana 1988). A better understanding of the salutary effects of church attendance, and the impact of institutional contexts on these patterns, should be an urgent priority for researchers in the future.…”

The Need to Belong: A Theory of the Therapeutic Function of the Black Church Tradition

“…Although varied in their details, each church essentially functions as a group process for survival on a level defined by the needs of the group members. Each celebrates its collectiveness through ceremony and symbols (Hammond, 1988) and uniquely defined dturd expressions of worship Service, songs, prayer, and religious practices (Gilkes, 1980;Griffith, Young, & Smith, 1984;McRae, Carey, & Anderson-Scott, 1998). Each group functions as a distinct combination of affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes that create an effective interpersonal environment.…”