Does social support mediate the moderating effect of intrinsic religiosity on the relationship between physical health and depressive symptoms among Jews?

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Abstract

<p class="first" id="P1">Previous research in the general population suggests that intrinsic religiosity moderates (mitigates) the effect of poor physical health on depression. However, few studies have focused specifically on the Jewish community. We therefore examined these variables in a cross-sectional sample of 89 Orthodox and 123 non-Orthodox Jews. Based on previous research suggesting that non-Orthodox Judaism values religious mental states (e.g., beliefs) less and a collectivist social religiosity more, as compared to Orthodox Judaism, we hypothesized that the moderating effect of intrinsic religiosity would mediated by social support among non-Orthodox but not Orthodox Jews. As predicted, results indicated that the relationship between physical health and depression was moderated by intrinsic religiosity in the sample as a whole. Furthermore, this effect was mediated by social support among non-Orthodox Jews, but not among the Orthodox. The importance of examining religious affiliation and potential mediators in research on spirituality and health is discussed. </p>

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Risk factors for anxiety and depression in the elderly: a review.

Dagmar Vink, Robert A. Schoevers, Marja Aartsen (2008)

Although a number of studies have examined risk factors for anxiety and depression at a later age, there have been no systematic comparisons of risk profiles across studies. Knowledge on such risk profiles may further our understanding of both the etiology and early recognition of these highly prevalent disorders. This paper gives a comprehensive overview and compares risk factors associated with anxiety and depression in the elderly. The databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts were systematically searched, and relevant English-language articles from January 1995 to December 2005 were reviewed. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on risk factors in elderly from a community or primary care setting were included. The associations between risk factors and pure anxiety or depressive symptoms or disorders were summarized and compared. The abstracted risk factors from studies on anxiety (N=17) and depression (N=71) were clustered into the categories biological, psychological and social. Although risk factors for anxiety and depression showed many similarities, some differences were found. Biological factors may be more important in predicting depression, and a differential effect of social factors on depression and anxiety was found. Due to a high heterogeneity between studies, no meta-analysis could be conducted. There is considerable overlap between the risk profiles for anxiety and depression in the elderly, which suggests a dimensional approach on the interrelationship between anxiety and depression is more appropriate. To improve the recognition and preventive mental health programs, a clearer understanding of differentiating etiological factors will be needed.

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Prospective relations between social support and depression: differential direction of effects for parent and peer support?

Timothy J. Ragan, Eric Stice, Christopher Randall (2004)

The authors tested whether deficits in perceived social support predicted subsequent increases in depression and whether depression predicted subsequent decreases in social support with longitudinal data from adolescent girls (N = 496). Deficits in parental support but not peer support predicted future increases in depressive symptoms and onset of major depression. In contrast, initial depressive symptoms and major depression predicted future decreases in peer support but not parental support. Results are consistent with the theory that support decreases the risk for depression but suggest that this effect may be specific to parental support during early adolescence. Results are also consonant with the claim that depression promotes support erosion but imply that this effect may only occur with peer support during this period.

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Religion and coping with serious medical illness.

Erik Larson, H Koenig, Peter Larson (2001)

To review and discuss some of the research published in the last several decades that has addressed the role that religion plays in helping patients cope with serious medical illness. Although this is not a systematic review of the literature, it provides a sampling of the studies that have examined the relationship between religious involvement, coping with illness, and health outcomes. This sampling of studies reflects the findings of a much larger systematic review of research (MEDLINE, Current Contents, Psychlit, Soclit, HealthStar, Cancerlit, CINAHL, and others) during the past century that was recently completed by the authors. Epidemiologic studies published in the English-language literature were reviewed and discussed. A number of well-designed cross-sectional and prospective studies have examined the relationship between religious beliefs and activities and adaptation to physical illness in patients with general medical conditions, neurologic disorders, heart disease, renal failure, AIDS, and a host of other physical disorders. This review demonstrates the widespread use of religion in coping with medical illness and provides circumstantial evidence for the possible benefits of this lifestyle factor. When people become physically ill, many rely heavily on religious beliefs and practices to relieve stress, retain a sense of control, and maintain hope and their sense of meaning and purpose in life. Religious involvement appears to enable the sick, particularly those with serious and disabling medical illness, to cope better and experience psychological growth from their negative health experiences, rather than be defeated or overcome by them.