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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Mood Disorders | Research article

Religious affiliation and major depressive episode in older adults: a cross-sectional study in six low- and middle- income countries

Authors: Julian A. Fernández-Niño, Ietza Bojorquez, Carolina Becerra-Arias, Claudia I. Astudillo-Garcia

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

The relationship of religious affiliation and mental health is complex, and being part of a minority religious group could have negative effects on mental health. In this study, we assessed the association between religious affiliation and major depressive episode (MDE) in older adults (> = 60 years) from China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Study on global Ageing and adult health (SAGE), with six nationally-representative community-based samples (n = 21,410). Religious affiliation was self-reported by participants, and we defined MDE based on ICD-10 classification. We estimated the association of MDE with religious affiliation versus no religious affiliation, and minority versus majority affiliation.

Results

We observed no association between having a religious affiliation (vs. no affiliation) and the odds of MDE in older adults. In most cases minorities had higher odds of MDE as compared with the majority religion, but the associations were only significant for Muslims in Ghana and for Muslims, Hindus and Other in South Africa.

Conclusions

While the results were significant only for two countries, we observed higher odds of MDE among minorities in most of them. Older adults who are members of religious minorities might be at risk for mental health problems, and there is a need for public health interventions aimed at them.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Religious affiliation and major depressive episode in older adults: a cross-sectional study in six low- and middle- income countries
Authors
Julian A. Fernández-Niño
Ietza Bojorquez
Carolina Becerra-Arias
Claudia I. Astudillo-Garcia
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6806-1

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