Search Results

Author: Nolan, Jennifer A.
Resulting in 2 citations.
1. Nolan, Jennifer A.
Religion Factors Impact on Health Utilizing the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79)
Presented: Philadelphia PA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Exposition, December 2005
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Keyword(s): Depression (see also CESD); Health, Mental/Psychological; Health/Health Status/SF-12 Scale; Religious Influences

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

This study investigates the relationships between religiosity factors and self-rated physical and mental health outcomes (SF-12) utilizing the NLSY79 (a national U.S. dataset that follows individuals (1979 to present) on life course changes (N= 12686)). For this study, the subcohort of aged forty and over (n=5588) will be analyzed. The hypothesized pathways of social support and lifestyle/behavior will be tested as possible mediating pathways to explain the relationship between religiosity and health. Religion may buffer the impact of stress on health by offering a social support network. Religious attitudes may affect health through encouraging healthy lifestyles or health related behavior for improved well being.

Preliminary results from multiple regression, reveal that increasing religious attendance ranging from several times a year to once a week is associated with better physical health than those that never attended (p<0.05). Educated males (p=0.002) with large family size (p=0.079) and higher net family income (p=0.010) were also more likely to have better physical health. (overall model significance F= 10.275, p<0.000). Frequency of religious attendance greater than once a week was not associated with better physical health (p=0.207). More religious variables such as affiliation, spouse attendance, frequency couples argue about religion and father-child religious participation will be included in subsequent models as well as testing religiosity's effect on mental health. Longitudinal analysis will be performed to analyze the change in health status over time from exposure to religiosity. The mediating and modifying effects of social support and lifestyle behavior will be analyzed.

Bibliography Citation
Nolan, Jennifer A. "Religion Factors Impact on Health Utilizing the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79)." Presented: Philadelphia PA, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Exposition, December 2005.
2. Nolan, Jennifer A.
Religious Participation Effects on Mental and Physical Health
Ph.D. Dissertation, Cornell University, 2005. DAI-B 67/01, Jul 2006.
Also: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1068239901&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=3959&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT)
Keyword(s): Cigarette Use (see Smoking); Depression (see also CESD); Health, Mental/Psychological; Health/Health Status/SF-12 Scale; Religious Influences; Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

The first section of the dissertation provides a review of the literature, conceptual distinctions between religiousness and spirituality, and four key hypothesized pathways identified and categorized from the literature, posited to explain the effects of religious participation on health.

The second section investigates the relationship of religious participation to physical health, mental health and depression and the mediating behavioral pathway of cigarette and alcohol use. The study focuses on a sample of 2,102 individuals followed from 1979 to 2000, utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 (NLSY79). The main findings are the following. Cross-sectional analysis revealed a positive U-shaped relationship between religious attendance and physical health in the year 2000, controlling for sociodemographic variables of gender, race, marital status, education, number of children living in a household, work amount, and income. Attendance levels of once per week to infrequent were related to better physical health scores. Attendance among individuals of low socio-economic status (SES) was associated with better physical health compared with no attendance. African Americans reported better mental health and lower depression scores with higher attendance levels compared to no attendance; Caucasians showed the opposite trend. Examining the data longitudinally from 1982 to 2000, early attendance in young adulthood was found to be positively associated with better mental health and less depression in mid-adulthood, controlling for key sociodemographic variables. The behavior of cigarette smoking frequency was a mediator between the relationship of religious attendance and depression, controlling for key sociodemographic variables. Alcohol abuse/dependency and heavy drinking showed evidence of mild mediation. Attendance in young adulthood was protective against alcohol abuse/dependency, heavy drinking and smoking in mid-adulthood.

In addition, the dissertation includes the development of a framework for future qualitative analysis of exploratory interviews with professionals at international humanitarian organizations on how religious beliefs and practices of a targeted population are taken into account in health projects. Major themes explored are conceptualizations of religiousness, spirituality and health, theorized mediating pathways, field experiences and institutional policies.

Overall this research provides evidence to support the relationship between religious participation and mental health, depression and physical health.

Bibliography Citation
Nolan, Jennifer A. Religious Participation Effects on Mental and Physical Health. Ph.D. Dissertation, Cornell University, 2005. DAI-B 67/01, Jul 2006..