Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Religion and Mental Health

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of the Sociology of Mental Health

Part of the book series: Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research ((HSSR))

Abstract

In this chapter, we examine the relevance of religion for mental health. We review how prominent forms of religious involvement influence mental health indirectly through the accumulation of resources and by preventing or attenuating the association between stress exposure and unfavorable mental health outcomes. We also discuss how religious involvement may at times deleteriously impact mental health through increased exposure to specific stressors and maladaptive forms of coping. In this effort, we summarize major conceptual, theoretical, and empirical perspectives related to three specific themes: (1) religious activity, (2) religious belief, and (3) religion during times of stress and adversity. Although our focus is primarily on Judeo-Christian institutions, practices, and beliefs in the USA, in a discussion of future research directions, we describe emerging comparative work that examines religion and mental health in a cross-cultural context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Additional research has examined the relationship between a variety of aspects of religiosity and psychological well-being using more idiosyncratic samples, such as college students or members of a specific church. Because the applicability of this research to a sociological interest in gradients of mental health in the population is limited, we generally do not review this research here.

  2. 2.

    It is also important to acknowledge the complexity of exchange dynamics within congregational social support systems. For instance, some studies have reported health benefits from the provision of support to others, and from volunteering in pro-social efforts, both of which may be initiated within religious groups (Musick & Wilson, 2003; Wilson & Janoski, 1995). In addition, there are suggestions that individuals gain more from balanced, symmetrical support systems (i.e., from giving and receiving support in roughly equal measure), as opposed to those characterized by dependency (i.e., receiving much more than giving) or exploitation (i.e., giving much more than receiving) (Maton, 1987).

  3. 3.

    Tabak and Mickelson (2009) also reported a nonlinear relationship between attendance and distress for whites and suggested that this finding was because those who are very distressed felt a greater need to attend religious services or were not as able to engage in religious services (p. 59). They are also one of the few researchers to have compared non-Hispanic whites to Hispanics and found that the relationship between religious attendance and distress is stronger for Hispanics, although the relationship was similar for Hispanics and African-Americans.

  4. 4.

    The measure of “relationship with God” includes frequency of praying and the strength of belief in the existence of God.

References

  • Ai, A. L., Peterson, C., Bolling, S. F., & Koenig, H. G. (2002). Private prayer and optimism in middle-aged and older patients awaiting cardiac surgery. The Gerontologist, 42, 70–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A. (1987). Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • August, K. J., Rook, K. S., & Newsom, J. T. (2007). The joint effects of life stress and negative social exchanges on emotional distress. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 62B, S304–S314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bade, M. K., & Cook, S. W. (2008). Functions of Christian prayer in the coping process. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 47, 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baetz, M., Bowen, R., Jones, G., & Koru-Sengul, T. (2006). How spiritual values and worship attendance relate to psychiatric disorders in the Canadian population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 654–661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barkan, S. E., & Greenwood, S. F. (2003). Religious attendance and subjective well-being among older Americans: Evidence from the General Social Survey. Review of Religious Research, 45, 116–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, P. L. (1967). The sacred canopy. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierman, A. (2006). Does religion buffer the effects of discrimination on mental health? Differing effects by race. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45, 551–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierman, A. (2010). Stress valuation and the experience of parenting stress in late life. In W. R. Avison, C. S. Aneshensel, S. Schieman, & B. Wheaton (Eds.), Advances in the conceptualization and study of the stress process: Essays in honor of Leonard I. Pearlin (pp. 198–205). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braam, A. W., Beekman, A. T. F., van Tilburg, T. G., Deeg, D. J. H., & van Tilburg, W. (1997). Religious involvement and depression in older Dutch citizens. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 32, 284–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braam, A. W., Hein, E., Deeg, D. J. H., Twisk, J. W. R., Beekman, A. T. F., & van Tilburg, W. (2004). Religious involvement and 6-year course of depressive symptoms in older Dutch citizens: Results from the longitudinal aging study Amsterdam. Journal of Aging & Health, 16, 467–489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, D. E. (1995). Religious involvement and social resources: Evidence from the data set “Americans’ changing lives”. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 34, 259–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, M., & Ellison, C. G. (2008). Do genetic factors influence religious life? Findings from a behavior genetic analysis of twin siblings. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 47, 529–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, M., & Ellison, C. G. (2010). Financial hardship and psychological distress: Exploring the buffering effects of religion. Social Science & Medicine, 71, 196–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, M., Ellison, C. G., & Flannelly, K. J. (2008). Prayer, God imagery, and symptoms of psychopathology. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 47, 644–659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, M., Ellison, C. G., & Marcum, J. P. (2010). Attachment to God, images of God, and psychological distress in a nationwide sample of Presbyterians. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 20, 130–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Branden, N. (1983). Honoring the self: Personal integrity and the heroic potentials of human nature. New York: Bantam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brashears, M. E. (2010). Anomia and the sacred canopy: Testing a network theory. Social Networks, 32, 187–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, P. H., & Tierney, B. (2009). Religion and subjective well-being among the elderly in China. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 38, 310–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatters, L. M., Bullard, K. M., Taylor, R. J., Woodward, A. T., Neighbors, H. W., & Jackson, J. S. (2008). Religious participation and DSM-IV disorders among older African Americans: Findings from the National Survey of American Life. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 957–965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaves, M. A., & Tsitos, W. (2001). Congregations and social services: What they do, how they do it, and with whom. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 30, 660–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Childs, E. (2010). Religious attendance and happiness: Examining gaps in the current literature – A research note. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 49, 550–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichhorn, J. (2011). Happiness for believers? Contextualizing the effects of religiosity on life-satisfaction. European Sociological Review, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., & Hayward, R. D. (2009). Religion and life satisfaction worldwide: The role of governmental regulation. Sociology of Religion, 70, 285–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and emotion in psychotherapy. New York: Lyle Stuart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1983). The case against religiosity. New York: Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G. (1991). Religious involvement and subjective well-being. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 32, 80–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G. (1993). Religious involvement and self-perception among black Americans. Social Forces, 71, 1027–1055.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G. (1994). Religion, the life stress paradigm, and the study of depression. In J. S. Levin (Ed.), Religion in aging and health (pp. 78–121). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Boardman, J. D., Williams, D. R., & Jackson, J. S. (2001). Religious involvement, stress, and mental health: Findings from the 1995 Detroit area study. Social Forces, 80, 215–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Burdette, A. M. (2011). Religion and the sense of control among U.S. adults. Sociology of Religion, 73(1), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Burdette, A. M., & Hill, T. D. (2009). Blessed assurance: Religion, anxiety, and tranquility among us adults. Social Science Research, 38, 656–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Burdette, A. M., & Wilcox, W. B. (2010). The couple that prays together: Race and ethnicity, religion, and relationship quality among working-age adults. Journal of Marriage & Family, 72, 963–975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Burr, J. A., & McCall, P. L. (1997). Religious homogeneity and metropolitan suicide rates. Social Forces, 76, 273–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Fan, D. (2008). Daily spiritual experiences and psychological well-being among us adults. Social Indicators Research, 88, 247–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Flannelly, K. J. (2009). Religious involvement and risk of major depression in a prospective nationwide study of African American adults. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 197, 568–573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & George, L. K. (1994). Religious involvement, social ties, and social support in a southeastern community. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 33, 46–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Henderson, A. K. (2011). Religion and mental health: Through the lens of the stress process. In A. J. Blasi (Ed.), Religion and health (pp. 11–44). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Krause, N., Shepherd, B. C., & Chaves, M. A. (2009). Size, conflict, and opportunities for interaction: Congregational effects on members’ anticipated support and negative interaction. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 48, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Lee, J. (2010). Spiritual struggles and psychological distress: Is there a dark side of religion? Social Indicators Research, 98, 501–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., & Levin, J. S. (1998). The religion-health connection: Evidence, theory, and future directions. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 700–720.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, C. G., Zhang, W., Krause, N., & Marcum, J. P. (2009). Does negative interaction in the church increase psychological distress? Longitudinal findings from the Presbyterian Panel Survey. Sociology of Religion, 70, 409–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Exline, J. J. (2002). Stumbling blocks on the religious road: Fractured relationships, nagging vices, and the inner struggle to believe. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 182–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Exline, J. J., Yali, A. M., & Sanderson, W. C. (2000). Guilt, discord, and alienation: The role of religious strain in depression and suicidality. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56, 1481–1496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fazio, E. M. (2010). The sense of mattering in late life. In W. R. Avison, C. S. Aneshensel, S. Schieman, & B. Wheaton (Eds.), Advances in the conceptualization of the stress process: Essays in honor of Leonard I. Pearlin (pp. 149–176). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro, K. F., & Kelley-Moore, J. A. (2001). Religious seeking among affiliates and non-affiliates: Do mental and physical health problems spur religious coping. Review of Religious Research, 42, 229–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannelly, K. J., Ellison, C. G., Galek, K., & Koenig, H. G. (2008). Beliefs about life-after-death, psychiatric symptomatology and cognitive theories of psychopathology. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 36, 94–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannelly, K. J., Galek, K., Ellison, C. G., & Koenig, H. G. (2010). Beliefs about god, psychiatric symptoms, and evolutionary psychiatry. Journal of Religion & Health, 49, 246–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannelly, K. J., Koenig, H. G., Ellison, C. G., Galek, K., & Krause, N. (2006). Belief in life after death and mental health: Findings from a national survey. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 194, 524–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2004). Coping: Pitfalls and promise. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 745–774.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, L. J., & Kaldor, P. (2002). The relationship between psychological well-being and Christian faith and practice in an Australian population sample. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 41, 179–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1928). The future of an illusion. London: Hogarth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Froese, P., & Bader, C. D. (2007). God in America: Why theology is not simply the concern of philosophers. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 46, 465–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Froese, P., & Bader, C. D. (2010). America’s four gods: What we say about God–& what that says about us. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galek, K., Krause, N., Ellison, C. G., Kudler, T., & Flannelly, K. J. (2007). Religious doubt and mental health across the lifespan. Journal of Adult Development, 14, 16–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, T. L. (2006). Spirituality and coping with life stress among adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30, 829–844.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K., Ellison, C. G., & Larson, D. B. (2002). Target article: Explaining the relationships between religious involvement and health. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 190–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilkes, C. T. (1980). The black church as a therapeutic community: Suggested areas for research into the black religious experience. Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, 8, 29–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenfield, E. A., Vaillant, G. E., & Marks, N. F. (2009). Do formal religious participation and spiritual perceptions have independent linkages with diverse dimensions of psychological well-being? Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 50, 196–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hank, K., & Schaan, B. (2008). Cross-national variations in the correlation between frequency of prayer and health among older Europeans. Research on Aging, 30, 36–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, P. C., & Pargament, K. I. (2003). Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of religion and spirituality: Implications for physical and mental health research. American Psychologist, 58, 64–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, T. D., Burdette, A. M., Ellison, C. G., & Musick, M. A. (2006). Religious attendance and the health behaviors of Texas adults. Preventative Medicine, 42, 309–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunsberger, B., McKenzie, B., Pratt, M., & Pancer, M. S. (1993). Religious doubt: A social psychological analysis. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 5, 27–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Idler, E. L., Musick, M. A., Ellison, C. G., George, L. K., Krause, N., Ory, M., et al. (2003). Measuring multiple dimensions of religion and spirituality for health research: Conceptual background and findings from the 1998 General Social Survey. Research on Aging, 25, 327–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Torges, C., & Krause, N. (2010). Unforgiveness, rumination, and depressive symptoms among older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 14, 439–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, L. E., & Coursey, R. D. (1988). The relationship of God control and internal locus of control to intrinsic religious motivation, coping and purpose in life. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 27, 399–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. ([1902] 1999). The varieties of religious experience: A study in human nature. New York: The Modern Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendler, K. S., Gardner, C. O., & Prescott, C. A. (1997). Religion, psychopathology, and substance use and abuse: A multimeasure, genetic-epidemiologic study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 322–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, V. (2010). The influence of religion on ties between the generations. In C. G. Ellison & R. A. Hummer (Eds.), Religion, families, and health: Population-based research in the United States (pp. 86–105). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, D. E., Cummings, D., & Whetstone, L. (2005). Attendance at religious services and subsequent mental health in midlife women. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 35, 287–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., Ford, S. M., George, L. K., Blazer, D. G., & Meador, K. G. (1993). Religion and anxiety disorder: An examination and comparison of associations in young, middle-aged, and elderly adults. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 7, 321–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of religion and health. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosmin, B. A., & Keysar, A. (2009). American religious identification survey (ARIS 2008): Summary report (pp. 1–24). Hartford, CT: Trinity College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2002a). Church-based social support and health in old age: Exploring variations by race. Journal of Gerontology, 57B, S332–S347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2002b). Exploring race differences in a comprehensive battery of church-based social support measures. Review of Religious Research, 44, 126–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2003a). Religious meaning and subjective well-being in late life. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B, S160–S170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2003b). A preliminary assessment of race differences in the relationship between religious doubt and depressive symptoms. Review of Religious Research, 45, 93–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2003c). Exploring race differences in the relationship between social interaction with the clergy and feelings of self-worth in late life. Sociology of Religion, 64, 183–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2004). Assessing the relationships among prayer expectancies, race, and self-esteem in late life. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 43, 395–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2005). God-mediated control and psychological well-being in late life. Research on Aging, 27, 136–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2006a). Religious doubt and psychological well-being: A longitudinal investigation. Review of Religious Research, 47, 287–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2006b). Church-based social support and change in health over time. Review of Religious Research, 48, 125–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2007). Social involvement in religious institutions and God-mediated control beliefs: A longitudinal investigation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 46, 519–537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2008). The social foundation of religious meaning in life. Research on Aging, 30, 395–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2009). Religious involvement, gratitude, and change in depressive symptoms over time. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 19, 155–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2010). The social milieu of the church and religious coping responses: A longitudinal investigation of older white and older blacks. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 20, 109–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N. (2011). Religious doubt, financial strain, and depressive symptoms among older Mexican Americans. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 99999(1), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., & Ellison, C. G. (2003). Forgiveness by God, forgiveness of others, and psychological well-being in late life. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42, 77–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., & Ellison, C. G. (2007). Parental religious socialization practices and self-esteem in late life. Review of Religious Research, 49, 109–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., & Ellison, C. G. (2009). The doubting process: A longitudinal study of the precipitants and consequences of religious doubt in older adults. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 48, 293–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., Ellison, C. G., Shaw, B. A., Marcum, J. P., & Boardman, J. D. (2001). Church-based social support and religious coping. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40, 637–656.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., Ellison, C. G., & Wulff, K. M. (1998). Church-based emotional support, negative interaction, and psychological well-being: Findings from a national sample of Presbyterians. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 725–741.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., Ingersoll-Dayton, B., Ellison, C. G., & Wulff, K. M. (1999). Aging, religious doubt, and psychological well-being. The Gerontologist, 39, 525–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, N., & Wulff, K. M. (2004). Religious doubt and health: Exploring the potential dark side of religion. Sociology of Religion, 65, 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Law, R. W., & Sbarra, D. A. (2009). The effects of church attendance and marital status on the longitudinal trajectories of depressed mood among older adults. Journal of Aging & Health, 21, 803–823.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, J. S. (2002). Is depressed affect a function of one’s relationship with God? Findings from a study of primary care patients. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 32, 379–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin, J. S., & Taylor, R. J. (1998). Panel analyses of religious involvement and well-being in African Americans: Contemporaneous vs. longitudinal effects. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 695–709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim, C., & Putnam, R. D. (2010). Religion, social networks, and life satisfaction. American Sociological Review, 75, 914–933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, E. Y. (2009). Beyond the west: Religiosity and the sense of mastery in modern Taiwan. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 48, 774–788.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, E. Y., Schieman, S., & Jang, S. J. (2011). Religiousness, spirituality, and psychological distress in Taiwan. Review of Religious Research. doi:10.1007/s13644-011-0011-8.

  • Maselko, J., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2006). Gender differences in religious practices, spiritual experiences and health: Results from the US General Social Survey. Social Science & Medicine, 62, 2848–2860.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, K. S., & Spielmans, G. I. (2007). Prayer and health: Review, meta-analysis, and research agenda. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30, 329–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1987). Patterns and psychological correlates of material support within a religious setting: The bidirectional support hypothesis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 185–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarland, M. J. (2010). Religion and mental health among older adults: Do the effects of religious involvement vary by gender? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 65B, 621–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • McRae, M. B., Carey, P. M., & Anderson-Scott, R. (1998). Black churches as therapeutic systems: A group process perspective. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 778–789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meisenhelder, J. B., & Chandler, E. N. (2001). Frequency of prayer and functional health in Presbyterian pastors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40, 323–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirola, W. A. (1999). A refuge for some: Gender differences in the relationship between religious involvement and depression. Sociology of Religion, 60, 419–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musick, M. A. (2000). Theodicy and life satisfaction among black and white Americans. Sociology of Religion, 61, 267–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musick, M. A., & Wilson, J. (2003). Volunteering and depression: The role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science & Medicine, 56, 259–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neighbors, H. W., Musick, M. A., & Williams, D. R. (1998). The African American minister as a source of help for serious personal crises: Bridge or barrier to mental health care? Health Education & Behavior, 25, 759–777.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsom, J. T., Nishishiba, M., Morgan, D. L., & Rook, K. S. (2003). The relative importance of three domains of positive and negative social exchanges: A longitudinal model with comparable measures. Psychology & Aging, 18, 746–754.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nooney, J., & Woodrum, E. (2005). Religious coping and church-based social support as predictors of mental health outcomes: Testing a conceptual model. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 41, 359–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, M. C., Singh, A., Skoog, I., Corcoran, C., Tschanz, J. T., Zandi, P., et al. (2008). Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: The Cache County study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 63B, P129–P137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norton, M. C., Skoog, I., Franklin, L. M., Corcoran, C., Tschanz, J. T., Zandi, P., et al. (2006). Gender differences in the association between religious involvement and depression: The Cache County (Utah) study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, P129–P136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Ensing, D. S., Falgout, K., Olsen, H., Reilly, B., Van Haitsma, K., et al. (1990). God help me: (I): Religious coping efforts as predictors of the outcomes to significant negative life events. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 793–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Kennell, J., Hathaway, W., Grevengoed, N., Newman, J., & Jones, W. (1988). Religion and the problem-solving process: Three styles of coping. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 271, 90–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (2000). The many methods of religious coping: Development and initial validation of the RCOPE. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56, 519–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 710–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Tarakeshwar, N., Ellison, C. G., & Wulff, K. M. (2001). Religious coping among the religious: The relationships between religious coping and well-being in a national sample of Presbyterian clergy, elders, and members. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40, 497–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peacock, J. R., & Poloma, M. M. (1999). Religiosity and life satisfaction across the life course. Social Indicators Research, 48(3), 319–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, L. R., & Roy, A. (1985). Religiosity, anxiety, and meaning and purpose: Religion’s Consequences for psychological well-being. Review of Religious Research, 27, 49–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieper, J., & van Uden, M. (2005). Religion and coping in mental health care. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Editions Rodopi B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollner, M. (1989). Divine relations, social relations, and well-being. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 30, 92–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poloma, M. M., & Pendleton, B. F. (1990). Religious domains and general well-being. Social Indicators Research, 22, 255–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poloma, M. M., & Pendleton, B. F. (1991). The effects of prayer and prayer experiences on measures of general well-being. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 29, 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, C. E. (1990). Religion and psychological distress. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 29, 236–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarr, S., & McCartney, K. (1983). How people make their own environments: A theory of genotype  →  environment effects. Child Development, 54, 424–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S. (2008). The religious role and the sense of personal control. Sociology of Religion, 69, 273–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S. (2010). Religious beliefs and mental health: Applications and extensions of the stress process model. In D. Pilgrim, A. Rogers, & B. Pescosolido (Eds.), The Sage handbook of mental health and illness (pp. 179–201). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S., & Bierman, A. (2007). Religious activities and changes in the sense of divine control: Dimensions of social stratification as contingencies. Sociology of Religion, 68, 361–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S., & Bierman, A. (2011). The role of divine beliefs in stress processes. In A. J. Blasi (Ed.), Toward a sociological theory of religion and health (pp. 45–68). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S., Bierman, A., & Ellison, C. G. (2010). Religious involvement, beliefs about God, and the sense of mattering among older adults. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 49, 517–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S., Pudrovska, T., & Milkie, M. A. (2005). The sense of divine control and the self-concept: A study of race differences in late life. Research on Aging, 27, 165–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schieman, S., Pudrovska, T., Pearlin, L. I., & Ellison, C. G. (2006). The sense of divine control and psychological distress: Variations across race and socioeconomic status. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45, 529–549.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnittker, J. (2001). When is faith enough? The effects of religious involvement on depression. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40, 393–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnittker, J. (2010). Gene-environment correlations in the stress-depression relationship. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 51, 229–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanahan, M. J., & Hofer, S. M. (2005). Social context in gene-environment interactions: Retrospect and prospect. Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 60B(Special Issue I), 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T. B., McCullough, M. E., & Poll, J. (2003). Religiousness and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 614–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snoep, L. (2008). Religiousness and happiness in three nations: A research note. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 207–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, R., & Bainbridge, W. S. (1980). Networks of faith: Interpersonal bonds and recruitment to cults and sects. American Journal of Sociology, 85, 1376–1395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, R., & Maier, J. (2008). Faith and happiness. Review of Religious Research, 50, 120–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternthal, M. J., Williams, D. R., Musick, M. A., & Buck, A. C. (2010). Depression, anxiety, and religious life: A search for mediators. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 51, 343–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strawbridge, W. J., Shema, S. J., Cohen, R. D., Roberts, R. E., & Kaplan, G. A. (1998). Religiosity buffers effects of some stressors on depression but exacerbates others. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 53B, S118–S126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabak, M. A., & Mickelson, K. D. (2009). Religious service attendance and distress: The moderating role of stressful life events and race/ethnicity. Sociology of Religion, 70, 49–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (1988). Church members as a source of informal social support. Review of Religious Research, 30, 193–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J., & Turner, R. J. (2001). A longitudinal study of the role and significance of mattering to others for depressive symptoms. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 42, 310–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tix, A. P., & Frazier, P. A. (1998). The use of religious coping during stressful life events: Main effects, moderation, and mediation. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 66, 411–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toussaint, L. L., Williams, D. R., Musick, M. A., & Everson, S. A. (2001). Forgiveness and health: Age differences in a US probability sample. Journal of Adult Development, 8, 249–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinitapoli, J., Ellison, C. G., & Boardman, J. D. (2009). US religious congregations and the sponsorship of health-related programs. Social Science & Medicine, 68, 2231–2239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ness, P. H., & Larson, D. B. (2002). Religion, senescence, and mental health: The end of life is not the end of hope. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10, 386–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J., & Patten, S. B. (2002). The moderating effects of coping strategies on major depression in the general population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 47, 167–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, A. J., & Flannelly, K. J. (2004). The role of religion/spirituality for cancer patients and their caregivers. Southern Medical Journal, 97, 1210–1214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, A. P., Ellison, C. G., McFarland, M. J., Lee, J. W., Morton, K., & Walters, J. (2010). Divorce, religious coping, and depressive symptoms in a conservative protestant religious group. Family Relations, 59, 544–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittington, B. L., & Scher, S. J. (2010). Prayer and subjective well-being: An examination of six different types of prayer. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 20, 59–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. R., Larson, D. B., Buckler, R. E., Heckmann, R. C., & Pyle, C. M. (1991). Religion and psychological distress in a community sample. Social Science & Medicine, 32, 1257–1262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J., & Janoski, T. (1995). The contribution of religion to volunteer work. Sociology of Religion, 56, 137–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeager, D. M., Glei, D. A., Au, M., Lin, H.-S., Sloan, R. P., & Weinstein, M. (2006). Religious involvement and health outcomes among older persons in Taiwan. Social Science & Medicine, 63, 2228–2241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. L., Griffith, E. E. H., & Williams, D. R. (2003). The integral role of pastoral counseling by African-American clergy in community mental health. Psychiatric Services, 54, 688–692.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, 725 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON, M5S 2J4, Canada

    Scott Schieman

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Alex Bierman

  3. Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Christopher G. Ellison

Authors
  1. Scott Schieman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alex Bierman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christopher G. Ellison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott Schieman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carol S. Aneshensel

  2. Department of Sociomedical Sciences Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Jo C. Phelan

  3. Department of Sociology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Alex Bierman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schieman, S., Bierman, A., Ellison, C.G. (2013). Religion and Mental Health. In: Aneshensel, C.S., Phelan, J.C., Bierman, A. (eds) Handbook of the Sociology of Mental Health. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4276-5_22

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation