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Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Reyes-Ortiz, CA; Berges, IM; Raji, MA; Koenig, HG; Kuo, Y-F; Markides, KS
Published in: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
May 2008

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine how the effect of depressive symptoms on cognitive function is modified by church attendance. METHODS: We used a sample of 2759 older Mexican Americans. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline, 2, 5, 7, and 11 years of follow-up. Church attendance was dichotomized as frequent attendance (e.g., going to church at least once a month) versus infrequent attendance (e.g., never or several times a year). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; score >or=16 vs <16). General linear mixed models with time-dependent covariates were used to explore cognitive change at follow-up. RESULTS: In unadjusted models, infrequent church attendees had a greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.151 points more each year, standard error [SE] = 0.02, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees; participants having CES-D scores >or=16 also had greater declines in MMSE scores (drop of 0.132 points more each year, SE = 0.03, p <.001) compared to participants with CES-D score <16 at follow-up. In fully adjusted models, a significant Church attendance x CES-D x Time interaction (p =.001) indicated that, among participants with CES-D scores >or=16, infrequent church attendees had greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.236 points more each year, SE = 0.05, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Church attendance appears to be beneficial for maintaining cognitive function of older persons. Church attendance moderates the impact of clinically relevant depressive symptoms on subsequent cognitive function.

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Published In

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5006

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

63

Issue

5

Start / End Page

480 / 486

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spirituality
  • Mexico
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Cognition
  • Aged
 

Citation

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Reyes-Ortiz, C. A., Berges, I. M., Raji, M. A., Koenig, H. G., Kuo, Y.-F., & Markides, K. S. (2008). Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 63(5), 480–486. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/63.5.480
Reyes-Ortiz, Carlos A., Ivonne M. Berges, Mukaila A. Raji, Harold G. Koenig, Yong-Fang Kuo, and Kyriakos S. Markides. “Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 63, no. 5 (May 2008): 480–86. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/63.5.480.
Reyes-Ortiz CA, Berges IM, Raji MA, Koenig HG, Kuo Y-F, Markides KS. Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 May;63(5):480–6.
Reyes-Ortiz, Carlos A., et al. “Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, vol. 63, no. 5, May 2008, pp. 480–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/gerona/63.5.480.
Reyes-Ortiz CA, Berges IM, Raji MA, Koenig HG, Kuo Y-F, Markides KS. Church attendance mediates the association between depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older Mexican Americans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 May;63(5):480–486.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5006

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

63

Issue

5

Start / End Page

480 / 486

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spirituality
  • Mexico
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Cognition
  • Aged