Longitudinal effects of religious involvement on religious coping and health behaviors in a national sample of African Americans

Abstract

Many studies have examined associations between religious involvement and health, linking various dimensions of religion with a range of physical health outcomes and often hypothesizing influences on health behaviors. However, far fewer studies have examined explanatory mechanisms of the religion-health connection, and most have overwhelmingly relied on cross-sectional analyses. Given the relatively high levels of religious involvement among African Americans and the important role that religious coping styles may play in health, the present study tested a longitudinal model of religious coping as a potential mediator of a multidimensional religious involvement construct (beliefs; behaviors) on multiple health behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity, alcohol use, cancer screening). A national probability sample of African Americans was enrolled in the RHIAA (Religion and Health In African Americans) study and three waves of telephone interviews were conducted over a 5-year period (N=565). Measurement models were fit followed by longitudinal structural models. Positive religious coping decreased modestly over time in the sample, but these reductions were attenuated for participants with stronger religious beliefs and behaviors. Decreases in negative religious coping were negligible and were not associated with either religious beliefs or religious behaviors. Religious coping was not associated with change in any of the health behaviors over time, precluding the possibility of a longitudinal mediational effect. Thus, mediation observed in previous cross-sectional analyses was not confirmed in this more rigorous longitudinal model over a 5-year period. However, findings do point to the role that religious beliefs have in protecting against declines in positive religious coping over time, which may have implications for pastoral counseling and other faith-based interventions.

Role of religious social support in longitudinal relationships between religiosity and health-related outcomes in African Americans

“…Fourth, we anticipated that both positive and negatively-valenced dimensions of religious social support would at least in part mediate the relationship between religious involvement and change in a number of the health behavior indicators over time. Given the direct effect of religious beliefs/behaviors and health-related outcomes has been reported previously (Holt, Roth, Huang, Park, & Clark, 2017) (“cl' ” and “ch' ” in Figure 1) we did not include additional hypotheses for these relationships.…”

Religiosity and Health-Related Risk Behaviours in a Secular Culture—Is there a Correlation?

“…Spirituality and faith do not seem to be absent, but rather detraditionalized, individualized and privatized. Most of the research concentrating on the associations between religion and health has been conducted in the USA or among religious minority groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists and Baptists (Holt et al 2017 ; Kim and Sobal 2004 ; Shmueli and Tamir 2007 ; Lau Caspar Thygesen et al 2012b ), where the degree and character of religious belief and practice is nowhere comparable to the religious characteristics of the general Danish population (la Cour 2004 ). Previous research in Denmark concerning religion and health has primarily been focusing on twins, the older segment of the population (+50 years) or individuals suffering from serious illness (Ahrenfeldt et al 2016 , 2017 ; la Cour 2008 ).…”

Association between Religion and Health in China: Using Propensity Score Matching Method

“…Regular attendance at religious events has no significant effects on self-reported health, but a significant and large effect on reporting being very happy. In western countries, the religions are congregational and the effects of church attendance on health may be mediated in part by a healthy lifestyle, social cohesion or mitigating stress (Koenig 2012;Bruce et al 2017;Gillum et al 2008;Holt et al 2017). Since in present study, the Protestants only account for 2.44% of the sample size, the potential effects of church attendance cannot be captured significantly.…”

“…Second, religious participation is often linked with lower likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, heavy alcoholic consumption, or substance abuse (Mendolia et al 2019;Park et al 2017). Third, by providing stress-coping skills for life difficulties as well as a sense of peace and value, religious practices may help to strengthen positive psychological status and reduce the stressful impacts on immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular functions (Holt et al 2017;Li et al 2016) and clinically contribute to better health outcomes (Koenig and Cohen 2002). Additionally, in some economically less-developed areas, religious organizations may help to provide direct help of primary care and health promotion education (Deaton and Stone 2013;Holt et al 2018).…”