Religion, stress, and mental health in adolescence: Findings from Add Health

Citation

Nooney, J. G. (2005). Religion, stress, and mental health in adolescence: Findings from Add Health. Review of Religious Research. vol. 46 (4) pp. 341-354

Abstract

A growing body of multidisciplinary research documents associations between religious involvement and mental health outcomes, yet the causal mechanisms linking them are not well understood. Ellison and his colleagues (2001) tested a series of hypotheses derived from the life stress paradigm which linked religious involvement to adult well-being and distress. In the present study those proposed mechanisms are tested in a population of adolescents, a particularly understudied group in religious research. Analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) reveals that religious involvement works to prevent the occurrence of school and health stressors, which reduces depression. For suicide ideation, religious involvement works to mobilize social resources. Implications for theory and research are discussed.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3512165

Keyword(s)

Mental health Stress

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Review of Religious Research

Author(s)

Nooney, J. G.

Year Published

2005

Volume Number

Issue Number

Pages

341-354

DOI

10.2307/3512165

Reference ID

429