RELIGIOSITY BUFFERS EFFECTS OF SOME STRESSORS ON DEPRESSION BUT EXACERBATES OTHERS

Although religiosity is protective for mortality and morbidity, its re lationship with depression is unclear. We used tbe 1994 Alameda County Study survey of 2,537 subjects aged 50-102 to analyze associations be tween two forms of religiosity and depression as well as the extent to which religiosity buffers relationships between stressors and depress ion. Non-organizational religiosity included prayer and importance of religious and spiritual beliefs; organizational religiosity included a ttendance at services and other activities. Non-organizational religio sity had Ilo association with depression; organizational religiosity b ad a negative relationship that weakened slightly with the addition of health controls. Both forms of religiosity buffered associations with depression Sol non-family stressors, such as financial and health pro blems. However, non-organizational religiosity exacerbated association s with depression for child problems, and organizational religiosity e xacerbated associations,with depression for marital problems, abuse, a nd caregiving. Religiosity may help those experiencing non-family stre ssors, but may worsen matters for those facing family crises.