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Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Norton, MC; Singh, A; Skoog, I; Corcoran, C; Tschanz, JT; Zandi, PP; Breitner, JCS; Welsh-Bohmer, KA; Steffens, DC; Cache County Investigators,
Published in: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
May 2008

We examined the relation between church attendance, membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), and major depressive episode, in a population-based study of aging and dementia in Cache County, Utah. Participants included 2,989 nondemented individuals aged between 65 and 100 years who were interviewed initially in 1995 to 1996 and again in 1998 to 1999. LDS church members reported twice the rate of major depression that non-LDS members did (odds ratio = 2.56, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-6.08). Individuals attending church weekly or more often had a significantly lower risk for major depression. After controlling for demographic and health variables and the strongest predictor of future episodes of depression, a prior depression history, we found that church attendance more often than weekly remained a significant protectant (odds ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval = 0.28-0.92). Results suggest that there may be a threshold of church attendance that is necessary for a person to garner long-term protection from depression. We discuss sociological factors relevant to LDS culture.

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Published In

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5014

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

63

Issue

3

Start / End Page

P129 / P137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Utah
  • Time Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Support
  • Religion
  • Prevalence
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Follow-Up Studies
 

Citation

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Norton, M. C., Singh, A., Skoog, I., Corcoran, C., Tschanz, J. T., Zandi, P. P., … Cache County Investigators, . (2008). Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 63(3), P129–P137. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/63.3.p129
Norton, Maria C., Archana Singh, Ingmar Skoog, Christopher Corcoran, Joann T. Tschanz, Peter P. Zandi, John C. S. Breitner, Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, David C. Steffens, and David C. Cache County Investigators. “Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study.J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 63, no. 3 (May 2008): P129–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/63.3.p129.
Norton MC, Singh A, Skoog I, Corcoran C, Tschanz JT, Zandi PP, et al. Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2008 May;63(3):P129–37.
Norton, Maria C., et al. “Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study.J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, vol. 63, no. 3, May 2008, pp. P129–37. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/geronb/63.3.p129.
Norton MC, Singh A, Skoog I, Corcoran C, Tschanz JT, Zandi PP, Breitner JCS, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Steffens DC, Cache County Investigators. Church attendance and new episodes of major depression in a community study of older adults: the Cache County Study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2008 May;63(3):P129–P137.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5014

Publication Date

May 2008

Volume

63

Issue

3

Start / End Page

P129 / P137

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Utah
  • Time Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Social Support
  • Religion
  • Prevalence
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Follow-Up Studies