Association between religiosity and depression varies with age and sex among adults in South America: Evidence from the CESCAS I study

Abstract

Prior studies have suggest that religiosity mitigates symptoms of depression. However, population-based data in South America are limited. This study determines the prevalence of religiosity and explores its association with depression in four cities of the Southern cone of Latin-America. In the CESCAS I study 7524 participants aged between 35 and 74 years old were recruited between 2011 and 2012 from randomly selected samples in 4 cities (Bariloche and Marcos Paz, Argentina; Temuco, Chile; and Pando-Barros Blancos, Uruguay). Religiosity was assessed with a questionnaire from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Two dimensions were used: 1) recognition as belonging to a religion; and 2) frequency of participation in religious activities. Depression was measured using the PHQ-9. Prevalence of religiosity was described by sociodemographic characteristics. Association between religiosity and depression was examined through logistic regression models controlling for sex, age and other potential confounders. Weekly religious activities were reported by 32.3% (95% CI: 30.1, 33.6) of participants. Prevalence of major depressive episode (MDE) was 14.6% (95% CI: 13.6, 15.6). After controlling for confounders, older women (≥65 years) who reported religious affiliation had 70% lower likelihood of having MDE (OR: 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1, 0.8). Moreover, in this group, women participating in religious activities more than once per week compared with “never” had 50% lower likelihood of having a MDE (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.9). No association between religious activities and depression was found in men. Religiosity is highly prevalent among adults in four cities of South America. Our study found an inverse association between religiosity and depression only in women, stronger in olders. Although longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the true nature of these relationships, religiosity may be a relevant factor that health care providers could take into account when exploring depression in their patients.

Resiliencia asociada a factores de salud mental y sociodemográficos en enfermeros mexicanos durante COVID-19

“…Respecto a los atributos de la resiliencia, a partir de la regresión, se encontró que la edad predecía altos niveles de religiosidad. En estudios previos, se ha reportado que la religiosidad es más común en mujeres de edades más avanzadas, y que ésta puede ser un factor protector para padecimientos psicológicos como la depresión, en este grupo etario (22) . Sin embargo, es importante tomar en cuenta las diferencias de cada región, ya que se ha encontrado una mayor prevalencia de prácticas religiosas en algunas regiones de latinoamérica (22) .…”

Positive Religious Coping and Mental Health among Christians and Muslims in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, this inverse relationship is not only limited to European and North American samples. For example, a study among 7666 participants from four cities in South America reported a significant inverse relationship between depression and religiosity, but only among females; furthermore, the relationship was far stronger among those 65 years and older (Santero et al 2019). Beyond cross-sectional studies, prospective longitudinal designs also provide evidence of religiosity being linked with lower levels of depressive symptomatology.…”

Religiosidade, espiritualidade e autoestima em adolescentes com fissura de lábio e palato: estudo correlacional

“…Por muito tempo, as questões que abordavam a religiosidade foram depreciadas no meio científico por serem consideradas áreas opostas e difíceis de serem controladas. Contudo, na atualidade, as experiências relacionadas à religiosidade vêm sendo notadas como importantes elementos da vida dos indivíduos, despertando interesse entre pesquisadores e sendo incorporado aos sistemas de saúde (11) .…”

“…Estudos revelam que indivíduos, incluindo adolescentes, com altos níveis de religiosidade apresentam menores índices de consumo de drogas, vida sexual mais segura, sensação de bem-estar, melhor enfrentamento de crises, menor propensão a depressão e ansiedade, menores índices de suicídio e menor risco de desenvolver doenças cardiovasculares (11)(12)(13)(14) .…”

“…Portanto, a religiosidade influencia a forma como a pessoa enfrenta situações de estresse, sofrimento e outros problemas da vida, podendo proporcionar-lhe maior aceitação, estabilidade e adaptação às situações difíceis enfrentadas, gerando paz, autoconfiança e imagem positiva de si mesmo, enquanto a espiritualidade, principalmente no caso de pessoas com alguma alteração física, pode levar a um melhor enfrentamento no processo reabilitador (11)(12)(13)(14) .…”