Religious participation as a predictor of mental health status and treatment outcomes in older persons
Abstract
Objectives: This study focuses on examining the relations of religious participation and affiliation to mental health status among older primary care patients, and to the use and clinical outcomes of mental health services. Methods: A sample of older adults participating in a clinical study (PRISM‐E) to treat their depression with or without co‐morbid anxiety (n = 1610) were queried about their religious affiliation and the frequency of their participation in religious activities. The diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders were made based on the MINI‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Severity of depressive disorders was assessed by emotional distress using the CES‐D. Results: Those attending religious activities on a weekly, monthly, or occasional basis were significantly less likely to have suicidal ideation (p < 0.02) and emotional distress (p < 0.0001) than those who never participated or participated on a less frequent basis. Frequency of religious participation was not associated with mental health service utilization (p = 0.16), but it was predictive of a lower CES‐D score at the end of the study intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Religious participation is positively associated with older adults' mental health status and treatment effects, but results regarding mental health service utilization were inconclusive. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Early studies of mental health utilization among religious people have focused on using secular mental health care providers rather than R/S providers to support coping and reductions in psychological distress.
“In part because early studies of mental health utilization among religious people have focused on using secular mental health care providers rather than R/S providers to support coping and reductions in psychological distress.32–34”
From Religiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults (2024) · cites this paper as [32]
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Spiritual struggle and affective symptoms among geriatric mood disordered patients
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“Similarly, among depressed outpatients, religious service attendance has been tied to lower levels of suicidal ideation and emotional distress (Chen et al., 2007).”
BackgroundReligiosity & mental health seeking behaviors among U.S. adults
Boateng, A. C. O., Sebu, J., Lekwauwa, R., Britt, K. C., Oh, H., & Doolittle, B. (2024) · The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine · doi:10.1177/00912174231187841 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“12 32 – 34 However, for religious individuals, the services provided by R/S leaders and SMHTs may be intertwined and inseparable.”
Background
- Authors
- Chen, H., Cheal, K., McDonel Herr, E. C., Zubritsky, C., & Levkoff, S. E.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chen, Hongtu
- Venue
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-01-24
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 144-153
- ISSN
- 0885-6230 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1166
- OpenAlex
- W2009310849
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.16
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Australian Government
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- religious participation, religious affiliation, older adults, mental health, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional distress, mental health service utilization, primary care, treatment outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Primary Health Care, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Religion and Psychology, Social Support, Socioeconomic Factors, Treatment Outcome
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