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The natural history of male mental health: Health and religious involvement

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  • Vaillant, George
  • Templeton, Janice
  • Ardelt, Monika
  • Meyer, Stephanie E.

Abstract

In prior studies, the effect of religious involvement upon physical health has shown generally positive results, but these studies have been marred by confounders. The 65-year-old US prospective Study of Adult Development has offered an opportunity to repeat these studies with somewhat better control over confounders. The physical and mental health of 224 Harvard University sophomores was monitored for 65 years. Their religious involvement from church attendance to private spirituality was prospectively monitored every 2-4 years from age 47 to 85. In this analysis we focus on the male respondent. We found that religious involvement, no matter how measured was uncorrelated with their late life physical, mental and social well-being. The exception was that the 44 men with major depression or with multiple negative life events were twice as likely to manifest high religious involvement as men with the least "stress." If these findings can be generalized, they suggest that religious involvement may exert the greatest mental health benefits on people with the fewest alternative social and personal resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Vaillant, George & Templeton, Janice & Ardelt, Monika & Meyer, Stephanie E., 2008. "The natural history of male mental health: Health and religious involvement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 221-231, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:2:p:221-231
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. la Cour, Peter & Avlund, Kirsten & Schultz-Larsen, Kirsten, 2006. "Religion and survival in a secular region. A twenty year follow-up of 734 Danish adults born in 1914," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 157-164, January.
    2. Williams, David R. & Larson, David B. & Buckler, Robert E. & Heckmann, Richard C. & Pyle, Caroline M., 1991. "Religion and psychological distress in a community sample," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(11), pages 1257-1262, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tampubolon, Gindo & Hanandita, Wulung, 2014. "Poverty and mental health in Indonesia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 20-27.
    2. Nicholson, Amanda & Rose, Richard & Bobak, Martin, 2009. "Association between attendance at religious services and self-reported health in 22 European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 519-528, August.

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