scholarly journals The Effects of Religiosity on Depression Trajectories Before and After Widowhood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 572-572
Author(s):  
Frances Hawes ◽  
Jane Tavares ◽  
Corina Ronneberg ◽  
Edward Miller
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Religious Service ◽  
Religious Service Attendance ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Service Attendance

Abstract Widowhood is associated with decreased emotional well-being, particularly increased depression. Religiosity may help improve mental health among widowed individuals. However, longitudinal studies exploring the role of religiosity on emotional well-being among widowed older adults is lacking, as are studies which examine this relationship using different dimensions of religiosity. This study analyzed data from the 2006-2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Trajectories of depression among older adults >50 years (N=5,486) were examined to explore patterns of depression among those entering widowhood and the potential impact of religiosity on depressive symptoms during widowhood. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to examine the association between widowhood and depression as well as the role of religiosity as a moderator of this association. Older adults experienced an increase in depressive symptomology after the onset of widowhood, and although the levels of depressive symptomology decrease post-widowhood, they do not return to their pre-widowhood levels. Additionally, high religious service attendance and higher intrinsic religiosity were both associated with lower depressive symptomology. High religious service attendance moderated the relationship between widowhood and depression. The relationship between high religious service attendance and depression was stronger among widowed older adults living alone. This study highlights the long-term effects of widowhood on depressive symptomology among older adults. The findings also suggest that higher religious service attendance can lessen the effects of widowhood on depressive symptoms, especially for those living alone. These findings may inform intervention development around increased screening and treatment for depression.

scholarly journals Depressive Symptoms and Loneliness Among Black and White Older Adults: The Moderating Effects of Race

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry O Taylor ◽  
Ann W Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Religious Service ◽  
Religious Service Attendance ◽  
Black And White ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Service Attendance

Abstract Background and Objectives Loneliness is consistently linked to worse depression/depressive symptoms; however, there are few studies that have examined whether the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms varies by race. The purpose of this study was to determine whether race moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Research Design and Methods Data come from the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Core survey and Psychosocial Leave-Behind Questionnaire; only black and white older adults were included in the analysis (N = 6,469). Depressive symptoms were operationalized by the eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression scale; however, the “felt lonely” item was removed given concerns with collinearity. Loneliness was operationalized using the Hughes 3-Item Loneliness Scale. Sociodemographic variables included gender, age, education, household income, employment status, marital status, and living alone or with others. Furthermore, social support and negative interactions from family members and friends, and religious service attendance were included in the analysis. Lastly, we created an interaction term between race and loneliness. All analyses used survey weights to account for the complex multistage sampling design of the HRS. Missing data were multiply imputed. Results In multivariable analysis, we found race significantly moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms while controlling for sociodemographic covariates, social support and negative interaction variables, and religious service attendance. Discussion and Implications Our findings demonstrate a differential racial effect for loneliness and depressive symptoms. For both blacks and whites, greater loneliness affected depressive symptoms; however, the effect was stronger among whites than it was for blacks. Given this is one of the first studies to examine the differential effects of race on loneliness and depressive symptoms, more research is necessary to determine the consistency of these results.

scholarly journals Mediating Role of Trait Mindfulness on the Relationships Between Age and Both Depressive and Anxiety Symptomology

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 371-371
Author(s):  
Scotti Howard ◽  
Eric Allard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Trait Mindfulness ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Previous research has shown that despite experiencing more negative life events, older adults maintain relatively high levels of well-being compared to their younger counterparts. This effect appears to be at least partially mediated by trait mindfulness in older adults (Raes et al., 2013). The current study expanded into an investigation as to how trait mindfulness might intervene on the relationship between age and other well-being indicators: anxiety and depressive symptomology. Participants included 30 older adults (aged 60-83) and 41 young adults (aged 18-35). Trait mindfulness was examined using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), while depressive symptoms and trait anxiety were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. Two separate mediated multiple regression models were conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro in SPSS. Trait mindfulness exhibited a significant indirect effect on the relationship between age and depressive symptoms (β = -2.27, p < .005), which was also seen for the relationship between age and trait anxiety (β = -4.17, p < .001). Older age predicted higher trait mindfulness, which in turn predicted diminished self-reported anxiety and depressive symptomology. Controlling for mindfulness in these models reduced the direct effect of age on depression and anxiety to non-significance. These findings imply that the relationship between age and trait mindfulness can be extended to alternative markers of well-being.

scholarly journals Christian Nationalism and Views of Immigrants in the United States: Is the Relationship Stronger for the Religiously Inactive?

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237802312098511
Author(s):  
Samuel Stroope ◽  
Heather M. Rackin ◽  
Paul Froese
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Religious Nationalism ◽  
Religious Service ◽  
Religious Service Attendance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Christian Nationalism ◽  
Service Attendance

Previous research has shown that Christian nationalism is linked to nativism and immigrant animus, while religious service attendance is associated with pro-immigrant views. The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between religious ideologies and practices when considering how religion affects politics. Using a national sample of U.S. adults, we analyze immigrant views by measuring levels of agreement or disagreement that undocumented immigrants from Mexico are “mostly dangerous criminals.” We find that Christian nationalism is inversely related to pro-immigrant views for both the religiously active and inactive. However, strongly pro-immigrant views are less likely and anti-immigrant views are more likely among strong Christian nationalists who are religiously inactive compared with strong Christian nationalists who are religiously active. These results illustrate how religious nationalism can weaken tolerance and heighten intolerance most noticeably when untethered from religious communities.

scholarly journals Satisfaction with Life: Mediating Role in the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Coping Mechanisms

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 787
Author(s):  
Daniela Almeida ◽  
Diogo Monteiro ◽  
Filipe Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between fourteen coping strategies and depressive symptoms in the Portuguese population. To undertake this work, 313 Portuguese adults aged 18 to 70 years (M = 30.73; SD = 10.79) were invited to participate in this study. Their participation was completely voluntary, and participants granted and signed informed consent previously to the filling of the validated Portuguese questionnaires. These questionnaires measured depressive symptoms, coping, and life satisfaction. The results revealed that life satisfaction displayed a mediating role in the relationship between adaptive coping mechanisms, specifically between active coping, planning, reinterpretation, and acceptance and depressive symptoms, showing a negative and significant indirect effect. Maladaptive coping mechanisms of self-blame, denial, self-distraction, disengagement, and substance use had a significant positive association with depressive symptoms, considering the mediating role of satisfaction with life. Current investigation provides initial evidence of how each coping mechanism is associated with satisfaction with life and depressive symptoms. This study clearly demonstrates that not all coping strategies are capable of influencing well-being indicators and that health professionals should focus on endorsing those that are significantly associated with lowering depressive symptoms and increasing overall satisfaction with life.

scholarly journals A longitudinal analysis of the association between the living arrangements and psychological well-being of older Chinese adults: the role of income sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Zhou ◽  
Lun Cai ◽  
Meilan Zhuang ◽  
Y. Alicia Hong ◽  
Ya Fang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Understanding how living arrangements may affect psychological well-being (PWB) is critical in China, a society with the largest older population in the world. However, few studies have examined the moderating effect of income sources on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB. Our aim was to examine whether living arrangements are associated with PWB and whether income sources moderate this association. Methods The data were drawn from the third (2002) to sixth (2011/2012) waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Six questions reflecting older adults’ well-being were used to measure PWB. Living arrangements were classified as follows: living alone, living with family and living in an institution. Income sources were categorized into financially independent, supported by children, and governmental support. We performed random-effects ordinal probit models to examine the association of living arrangements with PWB and the moderating effect of income sources on this relationship. Results We included a total sample of 30,899 observations for 16,020 respondents aged 65 and over during 9-year follow-up. Older adults living with family (β = .29, p < .001) and those living in an institution (β = .34, p < .001) had stronger PWB than those living alone; moreover, support from children (β= −.24, p < .001) or from the government (β= −.08, p < .05) has a negative effect on PWB compared to the effect of financial self-support. Living in an institution with support from children (β= −.22, p < .05) led to lower PWB than living alone with financial self-support. The opposite result was observed for older adults living with their family and supported by the government (β = .16, p < .05). Conclusions Our analysis provides a significant contribution to the existing literature on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB in China. We recognize that living with family or in an institution leads to better PWB than does living alone. In addition, financial support from the government can moderate this association.

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