The Effects of Religiosity on Depression Trajectories After Widowhood.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Hawes, Frances M., ; Tavares, Jane L.; Ronneberg, Corina R.; Miller, Edward Alan
- Source
- Omega: Journal of Death & Dying; Mar2024, Vol. 88 Issue 4, p1240-1257, 18p
- Subject
- Self-evaluation
Experience
Psychological tests
Mental depression
Longitudinal method
Statistics
Social support
Independent variables
Multivariate analysis
Health status indicators
Race
Widowhood
Socioeconomic factors
Questionnaires
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
Loneliness
Descriptive statistics
Psychology & religion
Data analysis software
Old age
- Language
- ISSN
- 00302228
This longitudinal study analyzed data from the 2006–2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Trajectories of depression among older adults ≥ 50 years (N = 1254) were examined over time to explore patterns of depression among those entering widowhood and the potential impact of religiosity on depressive symptoms during various stages of widowhood. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to examine the association between widowhood and depression and the role of religiosity as a moderator of this association. Older adults experienced a statistically significant increase in depressive symptomology after the onset of widowhood, and depressive symptomology decreased post widowhood, but did not return to pre-widowhood levels. Additionally, high religious service attendance and higher intrinsic religiosity were both associated with lower depressive symptomology. High religious service attendance moderated the relationship between widowhood and depression among widowed older adults living alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]