Religiosity and Depression among a National Sample of Adolescents

Authors

  • Alique Topalian, MPH
  • Keith A. King, PhD, MCHES
  • Rebecca A. Vidourek, PhD, CHES

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2019.31

Keywords:

religiosity, religion, depression, adolescent, sex differences

Abstract

This study examined religiosity and adolescent depression through a retrospective analysis via
data from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. A national sample of adolescents aged
12-17 years (n = 17,399) served as the participants of this study. Demographic characteristics were deter-
mined by conducting frequency distributions. Odds ratios were computed to determine whether past year
(2012) MDE differed based on adolescent involvement in religiosity. Multivariable logistic regression
analyses were computed to examine whether past year MDE differed based on adolescent involvement in
religiosity for males and for females. Findings indicated that 9.7% of adolescents had a Major Depressive
Episode (MDE) within the past year. Males at highest risk were those who did not feel their religious be-
liefs were an important part of their life or that it was important their friends share their religious beliefs.
Females at highest risk were those who did not feel their religious beliefs influence their decisions or that
it was important that their friends share their religious beliefs. Such findings may indicate that certain
aspects of religious involvement may provide protective effects against adolescent MDE.

Published

2019-01-01

How to Cite

Topalian, A., King, K. A., & Vidourek, R. A. (2019). Religiosity and Depression among a National Sample of Adolescents. American Journal of Health Studies, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2019.31

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