How Religion Increases Depression in Teens
Going to Church Affects an Adolescent’s Mood and Behaviors
Oct 29, 2008
Though religion often offers a source of social support and a sense of belonging, new research from Ohio State University (OSU) shows that certain adolescents and females struggle with increased rates of depression if they attend frequent religious services.
How Religion Increases Depression in Teens
“Most research has shown that religious participation, for the most part, is good and can be very helpful for battling depression,” said study co-author and assistant professor of sociology at Ball State University Richard Petts (a doctoral student at OSU at the time of the study). “But our research has shown that this relationship does not hold true in all instances.”
White and African-American teens had fewer symptoms of depression if they attend frequent religious services. In contrast, Latino and Asian-American adolescents reported a negative mood if they were highly active in their church (which is an unusual finding in adolescent psychology).
Through personal interviews, adolescents in grades 7 through 12 discussed their positive and negative feelings, such as depression, loneliness, isolation, happiness, and excitement. They also reported their race, religious preferences, and religious attendance. One year later, the same students were interviewed on the same topics; parents were also interviewed about their children’s moods and behaviors.
Asian-American adolescents who never attended religious services and Latinos who attended semi-regularly were the least likely to be depressed. Latinos and Asian-Americans who attended church at the same level as whites and African-Americans were 6 to 27% more likely to report symptoms of depression. In this study of adolescent psychology, females were more likely to report symptoms of depression than males.
Why Does Religion Increase Teen Depression?
“Asian and Latino youth who are highly involved in a culturally distinct church may have a more difficult time balancing the beliefs of their family and their traditional culture with mainstream society,” says Petts. “Their religious institution is telling them what should be important in their lives and how to behave, and mainstream society is saying something else.”
Latino teens who don’t attend religious services also report higher levels of depression, possibly because religion is an important part of social support in their culture. They feel disconnected. Sexually active females who are involved in religious activities report more depression and more emotional distress than sexually active males who are equally involved in religion.
After completing this study of adolescent psychology, Petts suggested that moderate church attendance may provide the benefits of social support, without the added stress of balancing religious values with the mores of mainstream culture.
Source: Ohio State University Press Release. “Participating in Religion May Make Adolescents From Certain Races More Depressed.” Sept 3, 2008.
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