Cited by 380Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyReligion and Society InteractionsRacial and Ethnic Identity Research

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Religious Involvement and Self-Perception among Black Americans

Ellison, Christopher G.·1993·Social Forces

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Abstract

This study focuses on the relationships between the religious involvement of black Americans and two important dimensions of self-perception: self-esteem, or one's sense of personal worth, and personal mastery, or feelings of control over one's affairs. This article argues that participation in church communities may foster positive self-perception through the interpersonal supportiveness and positive reflected appraisals of coreligionists. Private devotional activities may also be linked with positive self-regard via processes of religious role taking. Analyses of data from the 1979–80 National Survey of Black Americans support these arguments with regard to self-esteem, but not personal mastery. In addition, the findings suggest that public religious participation buffers the negative influence of physical unattractiveness on self-esteem, while private religious devotion buffers the negative impact of chronic illness on self-esteem. The results shed new light on the contemporary psychosocial role of religious life among black Americans.

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Authors: Ellison, C. G.
Affiliations: The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author: Ellison, Christopher G.
ORCID: Ellison, Christopher G.
Venue: Social Forces
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published: 1993-06
Volume: 71
Issue: 4
Pages: 1027
ISSN: 0037-7732 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.2307/2580129
OpenAlex: W1987568537
Cited by: 380
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 14
FWCI: 4.15
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Social Forces (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
Keywords: religious involvement, self-esteem, personal mastery, African Americans, church participation, interpersonal support, chronic disease

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Religious Involvement and Self-Perception among Black Americans

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