COLLECTIVE RITUALS OR PRIVATE PRACTICE IN TEXAS? ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS FACTORS ON MENTAL HEALTH
A growing body of literature addresses the linkages between religion and mental health. While the preponderance of the empirical evidence points to positive effects that religious variables have on mental health, less is known about the specific mechanisms that may explain this recurrent religion-me...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage Publications
2010
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| In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 2010, Volume: 52, Issue: 2, Pages: 188-206 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | A growing body of literature addresses the linkages between religion and mental health. While the preponderance of the empirical evidence points to positive effects that religious variables have on mental health, less is known about the specific mechanisms that may explain this recurrent religion-mental health link. Using a random sample of adults in the state of Texas, a social capital perspective is applied and ordered logistic regression techniques used to determine the impact of religion/religiosity variables on mental health. Specifically, the study contrasts individualistic and collectivist forms of religious expression and argues that it is the nature of the religious phenomenon under consideration and not religiosity per se which has the most direct impact on mental health. Findings suggest that collectivist religious practices like church attendance and participation in church related activities are linked to positive mental health outcomes. Conversely, individualistic practices, as measured by consumption of religious media, prayer, and reading of scripture, seem to be associated with lower measures of overall mental health. Implications for the religious social capital perspective are discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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