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Religiosity, Mental Health and Substance Use among Black and Hispanic Adults during the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City

Author

Listed:
  • Connie Svob

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Susan X. Lin

    (Center for Family and Community Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Keely Cheslack-Postava

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Michaeline Bresnahan

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Renee D. Goodwin

    (Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA)

  • Norbert Skokauskas

    (Center for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Protection, IPH, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7030 Trondheim, Norway)

  • George J. Musa

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Sidney H. Hankerson

    (Department of Psychiatry, Institute for Health Equity Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Diane R. Dreher

    (Department of Chaplaincy Services, Northwell Health, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY 10075, USA)

  • Megan Ryan

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Yi-Ju Hsu

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Anna-Lena Jonsson-Cohen

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Christina W. Hoven

    (Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between personal religiosity, mental health, and substance use outcomes among Black and Hispanic adults during the first six months of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City (NYC). Phone interviews were conducted with 441 adults to obtain information on all variables. Participants self-reported race/ethnicity as Black/African American ( n = 108) or Hispanic ( n = 333). Logistic regression were used to examine associations between religiosity, mental health, and substance use. There was a significant inverse association of religiosity and substance use. Religious people had a lower prevalence of drinking alcohol (49.0%) compared to non-religious people (67.1%). Religious people also had substantially lower prevalence of cannabis or other drug use (9.1%) in comparison to non-religious people (31%). After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household income, the association of religiosity with alcohol use and with cannabis/other drug use remained statistically significant. Despite restricted access to in-person religious activities and congregational supports, the findings suggest that religiosity itself may be helpful from a public health perspective, independent of serving as a conduit for other social services.

Suggested Citation

  • Connie Svob & Susan X. Lin & Keely Cheslack-Postava & Michaeline Bresnahan & Renee D. Goodwin & Norbert Skokauskas & George J. Musa & Sidney H. Hankerson & Diane R. Dreher & Megan Ryan & Yi-Ju Hsu & A, 2023. "Religiosity, Mental Health and Substance Use among Black and Hispanic Adults during the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-8, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:9:p:5632-:d:1132071
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