Longitudinal Associations of Importance of Religion and Frequency of Service Attendance with Depression Risk among Adolescents in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Objective:To examine the directionality of associations between self-reported religious importance or worship attendance and depression among adolescents, and to determine whether social supports or general self-efficacy are mechanisms of observed associations. Method:A cohort (n = 976) of Canadian high school students were surveyed in Grade 10 (2000 to 2001) and 2 years later (2002 to 2003). Logistic regression was conducted separately among adolescents with and without elevated depressive symptoms to examine associations between baseline religious attendance and religious importance with later depression, adjusting for confounding factors. Effects of reverse causation were also assessed, determining associations between baseline depression and follow-up religious attendance and importance.Results: Girls who were not depressed at baseline and who attended religious services had lower odds of later depression (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.46; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.95, P < 0.05), which was accounted for by general self-efficacy. Boys who were depressed at baseline who attended religious services had lower odds of still being depressed at followup (AOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.80, P < 0.01). Depression at baseline predicted lower attendance at follow-up among boys (AOR 0.26; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.75, P < 0.01). Conclusions:Religious attendance independently predicts lower depression at followup among girls, and may do so by increasing self-efficacy. Among boys with depression, religious attendance predicts a lower likelihood of still being depressed at follow-up. The relation between religious attendance and depression in boys is bidirectional. W W W Associations longitudinales de l'importance de la religion et de la fréquence de la pratique du culte avec le risque de dépression chez des adolescents de la Nouvelle-ÉcosseObjectif : Examiner la directionnalité des associations entre l'importance auto-déclarée de la religion ou de la pratique du culte et la dépression chez les adolescents, et déterminer si les soutiens sociaux ou l'auto-efficacité générale sont des mécanismes des associations observées.Méthode : Une cohorte (n = 976) d'élèves du secondaire canadiens a été interrogée en 10e année (2000 à 2001) et 2 ans plus tard (2002 à 2003). La régression logistique a été menée séparément chez des adolescents présentant ou pas des symptômes dépressifs élevés afin d'examiner les associations entre la pratique religieuse de départ et l'importance de la religion avec la dépression ultérieure, en corrigeant les facteurs de confusion. Les effets de la causalité inverse ont aussi été évalués, en déterminant les associations entre la dépression au départ et la pratique et l'importance de la religion au suivi.Résultats : Les filles qui n'étaient pas déprimées au départ et qui pratiquaient leur religion avaient des probabilités plus faibles d'une dépression ultérieure (rapport de cotes corrigé [RCC] 0,46; IC à 95 % 0,22 à 0,95; P < 0,05), ce qui était attribué à l'auto-efficacité générale. Les garçons qui étaient déprimés au départ et qu...

Processes of Religious and Spiritual Influence in Adolescence: A Systematic Review of 30 Years of Research

“…First, five studies examined internalizing (e.g., depression) as an outcome. Bidirectional inverse relations with internalizing were evident for religious attendance (but not religious importance; Rasic, Asbridge, Kisely, & Langille, ) and existential spirituality (Yang, Mao, Wei, & Huang, ). Furthermore, greater positive spiritual coping (e.g., “seeking God's help in letting go of anger”) predicted less subsequent internalizing, while greater internalizing predicted later negative spiritual coping (e.g., “wondering what I did for God to punish/abandon me”; Reynolds, Mrug, Hensler, Guion, & Madan‐Swain, ).…”

Religious Service Attendance and Lower Depression Among Women—a Prospective Cohort Study

“…Most research has been based on cross-sectional study designs (10–15), which generally cannot provide evidence of causality. Limited longitudinal research has been carried out (16–19). Complicating matters further, a recent study by Maselko et al .…”

Religiousness, social support and the use of antidepressants among the elderly: a population-based study

“…Several authors warn of the bidirectional nature of the relationship between religiousness and health events [26][27]32 , making it difficult to understand if the intense religiousness is a result of good health or if this has a positive influence, especially if we consider the religiousness in its public expression, as is the case here. Thus, one cannot define clearly whether antidepressant use is influenced by or influences religiousness.…”