Positive self-perceptions as a mediator of religious involvement and health behaviors in a national sample of African Americans

Abstract

Self-esteem and self-efficacy are theorized to serve as mediators of the relationship between religious involvement and health outcomes. Studies confirming these relationships have produced mixed evidence. This study examined whether self-esteem and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between religious involvement (beliefs, behaviors) and a set of modifiable health behaviors in a national probability sample of African Americans. African Americans, in general, are relatively high in religious involvement and have higher than average rates of chronic disease. Participants were interviewed by telephone, and a Religion-Health Mediational Model was tested using structural equation modeling. Results suggest that self-esteem and self-efficacy at least in part mediate the relationship between religious beliefs (e.g., relationship with God) and greater fruit and vegetable consumption, and lower alcohol consumption. Religious behaviors (e.g., service attendance) were found to have direct, unmediated effects on health behaviors. Findings have implications for church-based health promotion in African American communities such as education or support groups.

Gender Differences in the Roles of Religion and Locus of Control on Alcohol Use and Smoking Among African Americans

“…Data-collection methods for the RHIAA study have been previously reported (Holt et al, 2014). A sampling firm used probability-based methods to develop a call list of households from the 50 U.S. states.…”

“…Consistent with previous theory in spiritual health locus of control (Holt et al, 2003) and religious coping , we expected that this association would be attenuated in persons with high active spiritual health locus of control and amplified in persons with high passive spiritual health locus of control. This study used data from our Religion and Health in African Americans (RHIAA) study (Holt et al, 2014). This is a national telephone survey of African American households, designed to examine the nature of and reasons for the religion-health connection.…”

Spirituality and religious coping in African-American youth with depressive illness

“…Further, the researchers identified the positive benefits for collaborative coping and negative impacts of self-directed coping including associations with greater hopelessness and suicidal behaviours, findings that have been replicated in racially diverse populations of youth (Shannon, Oakes, Scheers, Richardson, & Stills, 2013; Terreri & Glenwick, 2013). In general, African Americans are reportedly more likely to use religion and spirituality as coping resources when facing health challenges and are more likely to report experiences of positive health outcomes attributed to their religious practices including prayer (Gillum & Griffith, 2010; Holt, Roth, Clark, & Debnam, 2014). …”

Our family portrait: the church as a model of social support

“…The explanatory Religion-Health Meditational Model examines the role of specific mediators such as coping, social capital and selfefficacy towards greater mental health outcomes. 5,13 The theoretical and empirical studies reviewed above refer to specific individual-level traits such as religious beliefs and religious identification as an explanation. There is, however, a gap in understanding how social interactionism, group-level dynamics such as context, social processes and organizational structures, are the basis of social support in the church.…”

“…Church member: I've been involved in church ministry since I was 13 hospitality for the church family. Referred to as the 'church mother', this de facto leader used her personality and skills to cater to a variety of needs in the church.…”