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01-08-2016 | Original Paper

Religious Participation is Associated with Increases in Religious Social Support in a National Longitudinal Study of African Americans

Authors: Daisy Le, Cheryl L. Holt, Dominic P. Hosack, Jin Huang, Eddie M. Clark

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2016

Abstract

This study reports on the association between religious beliefs and behaviors and the change in both general and religious social support using two waves of data from a national sample of African Americans. The Religion and Health in African Americans (RHIAA) study is a longitudinal telephone survey designed to examine relationships between various aspects of religious involvement and psychosocial factors over time. RHIAA participants were 3173 African American men (1281) and women (1892). A total of 1251 men (456) and women (795) participated in wave 2 of data collection. Baseline religious behaviors were associated with increased overall religious social support from baseline to wave 2 (p < .001) and with increased religious social support from baseline to wave 2 in each of the following religious social support subscales: emotional support received (p < .001), emotional support provided (p < .001), negative interaction (p < .001), and anticipated support (p < .001). Religious beliefs did not predict change in any type of support, and neither beliefs nor behaviors predicted change in general social support. African Americans who are active in faith communities showed increases in all types of religious social support, even the negative aspects, over a relatively modest longitudinal study period. This illustrates the strength of the church as a social network and the role that it plays in people’s lives.

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Title: Religious Participation is Associated with Increases in Religious Social Support in a National Longitudinal Study of African Americans
Authors: Daisy Le
Cheryl L. Holt
Dominic P. Hosack
Jin Huang
Eddie M. Clark
Publication date: 01-08-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0143-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Religious Participation is Associated with Increases in Religious Social Support in a National Longitudinal Study of African Americans

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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