Influence of Religiosity on Adolescent Chronic Physiologic Stress
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Date
2018-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Chronic stress in youth increases risk for poor physical and mental health, thus it is important to understand the factors that influence persistent stress in youth. Religiosity embodies support, self-worth and acceptance and has been associated with lower perceived stress levels in youth. Studies to determine the relationship between religiosity and measures of physiologic stress are necessary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between religiosity and chronic physiologic stress in adolescents. Secondary data were examined from two linked studies composed of a representative sample of 508 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years in a large Midwestern city. Participants were asked about the importance of and involvement in religious faith via three survey items using a Likert scale: (1) attendance at religious services; (2) attendance at religious youth activities; and (3) importance of religious faith in daily life. Stress levels were measured through hair cortisol, a measure of chronic physiologic stress as 1 cm of hair growth approximates the mean cortisol level for the corresponding month. Descriptive and multivariate analyses examined the relationship between religiosity and hair cortisol levels. Results for the attendance at religious services show a nonlinear association, with participants who occasionally attended religious services having the lowest levels of hair cortisol while those who attended regularly or not at all were found to have higher levels of hair cortisol. There were no significant relationships between involvement in religious youth activities and chronic stress. Participants who reported the importance of religious faith as very to extremely high had higher levels of hair cortisol than those who reported lower levels of importance of religion in their lives. These results did not support previous work that demonstrated a positive effect of religiosity on perceived chronic stress in adolescents. There may be differences in how adolescents perceive and report stress and measures of chronic physiologic stress. These differences warrant additional study. Further work to establish the relationship of religiosity and spiritual health to chronic physiologic stress are necessary to understand the relationship of this aspect of holistic wellness on mental and physical health of adolescents.