Dr. Brown et Le. Gary, RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT AND HEALTH-STATUS AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES, Journal of the National Medical Association, 86(11), 1994, pp. 825-831
Previous studies document the importance of religious involvement in A
frican-American communities. This study examines the extent to which r
eligious involvement is associated with health status among African-Am
erican males. The data come from a community sample of 537 males resid
ing in a major US urban area. Three indicators of religious involvemen
t were used: denominational affiliation, frequency of church attendanc
e, and overall religiosity. Measures of health status included a self-
assessment of physical health, depressive symptoms, self-reported hype
rtension, cigarette smoking, and daily drinking of alcohol. The result
s show significant associations between selected indicators of religio
us involvement and measures of health status. Fewer depressive symptom
s are associated with having a denominational affiliation, while no or
low frequency of church attendance is associated with current smoking
and daily drinking. Implications for health-related interventions wit
h African-American males are discussed in light of these findings.