Religion and psychological distress in a community sample

David R. Williams, David B. Larson, Robert E. Buckler, Richard C. Heckmann and Caroline M. Pyle

Social Science & Medicine, 1991, vol. 32, issue 11, 1257-1262

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of religious attendance and affiliation on psychological distress in a longitudinal community study of 720 adults. Religious affiliation is unrelated to mental health status. In contrast, although religious attendance does not directly reduce psychological distress, it buffers the deleterious effects of stress on mental health. That is, in the face of stressful events and physical health problems, religious attendance reduces the adverse consequences of these stressors on psychological well-being.

Keywords: religion; psychological; distress; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1991
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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