Religious Involvement and Perceived Social Support: Interactive Effects on Cardiovascular Reactivity to Laboratory Stressors
Abstract
Religious involvement has been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This may reflect lower cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) among individuals high in religious involvement. The relationship between religious involvement and reactivity may overlap with the effects of other psychosocial factors. This study examined religious involvement, social support, and hostility in relation to CVR in the laboratory. Results showed an interactive effect of perceived social support and religious involvement on systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity. Participants reporting a high level of religious involvement showed lower SBP reactivity only when they also reported high levels of social support. These findings encourage further research on the unique and conjoint effects of religiousness and other psychosocial variables on CVR.
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Of the 13 most rigorous CHD studies, nine (69%) found inverse relationships with CHD and one found a positive one.
“Of the 13 studies with the most rigorous methodology, nine (69%) found inverse relationships with CHD [357–365] and one found a positive one [366].”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [365]
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- Authors
- Chen, Y. Y., & Contrada, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chen, Yung Y.
- ORCID
- Contrada, Richard J.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-12
- ISSN
- 1071-2089 (ISSN-L)
- 1751-9861
- OpenAlex
- W1990354796
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Keywords
- religious involvement, perceived social support, hostility, cardiovascular reactivity, laboratory stressor, psychosocial factors, interaction effects, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality
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