Showing papers by "Neal Krause published in 2009"

Meaning in Life and Mortality

Abstract: Objectives. The purpose of this exploratory study was to see if meaning in life is associated with mortality in old age. Methods. Interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of older adults ( N = 1,361). Data were collected on meaning in life, mortality, and select control measures. Results. Three main fi ndings emerged from this study. First, the data suggest that older people with a strong sense of meaning in life are less likely to die over the study follow-up period than those who do not have a strong sense of meaning. Second, the fi ndings indicate that the effect of meaning on mortality can be attributed to the potentially important indirect effect that operates through health. Third, further analysis revealed that one dimension of meaning — having a strong sense of purpose in life — has a stronger relationship with mortality than other facets of meaning. The main study fi ndings were observed after the effects of attendance at religious services and emotional support were controlled statistically. Discussion. If the results from this study can be replicated, then interventions should be designed to help older people fi nd a greater sense of purpose in life.

Religious Involvement, Gratitude, and Change in Depressive Symptoms Over Time

Abstract: Three hypotheses are evaluated in this study. The first predicts that feelings of gratitude will offset (i.e., moderate) the deleterious effects of chronic financial strain on depressive symptoms over time. The second hypothesis specifies that people who go to church more often will be more likely to feel grateful. The third hypothesis predicts that individuals with a strong sense of God-mediated control will also feel more grateful. Data from a nationwide longitudinal study of older adults in the United States (N = 818) provide support for all three hypotheses. The data suggest that the effects of ongoing economic difficulty on depressive symptoms are especially pronounced for older people who are less grateful. But in contrast, persistent financial difficulties fail to exert a statistically significant effect on depressive symptoms over time for older individuals who are especially grateful. The results further reveal that more frequent church attendance and stronger God-mediated control beliefs are ass...

Size, Conflict, and Opportunities for Interaction: Congregational Effects on Members' Anticipated Support and Negative Interaction

Abstract: A growing literature examines the role of religious communities as sources of social support for members, and a smaller body of work also explores negative aspects of social relations within congregations. However, very little is known about the characteristics of religious groups that promote or impede the development of supportive networks. We use data from a unique source—the National Congregations Study, linked with individual records from the 1998 General Social Survey (GSS)—to explore this issue. Key findings reveal that: (1) individuals who attend very large churches tend to report lower levels of anticipated support and informal negative interaction; (2) the presence of major congregational conflict tends to dampen anticipated support and increase informal negative interaction; and (3) the absence of a well-defined period for informal socializing before or after the worship service is associated with lower levels of anticipated support, but is unrelated to the frequency of negative interaction among church members. Several implications and promising directions for future research are discussed.

Does Negative Interaction in the Church Increase Psychological Distress? Longitudinal Findings from the Presbyterian Panel Survey

Abstract: This study examines the effects of negative interaction in church on psychological distress. After outlining a series of theoretical arguments linking negative interaction with health and well-being, relevant hypotheses are tested using longitudinal data from two surveys of the 1997–1999 Presbyterian Panel, a nationwide panel of members and elders (lay leaders) in congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Findings confirm that negative interaction appears to foster or exacerbate distress over the study period. In addition, specific dimensions of social negativity have distinctive effects; the impact of criticisms on distress surface only in cross-sectional models, while the effects of excessive demands emerge only in the longitudinal models. No subgroup variations in these effects are detected. Implications of these findings are discussed with regard to (a) research on religion and health and (b) congregational life, and a number of promising directions for future research are elaborated.

Church-Based Volunteering, Providing Informal Support at Church, and Self-Rated Health in Late Life:

Abstract: Objective To assess the relationships among volunteer work at church, providing informal support to fellow church members, religious commitment, and change in self-rated health over time.

Lifetime Trauma, Prayer, and Psychological Distress in Late Life

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to see whether prayer helps older people cope more effectively with the adverse effects of lifetime trauma. Data from a nationwide survey of older adults reveal that the size of the relationship between traumatic events and depressive symptoms is reduced for older people who believe that only God knows when it is best to answer a prayer and when they believe that only God knows the best way to answer it. The findings further reveal that these beliefs about prayer outcomes are especially likely to offset the effects of traumatic events that arose during childhood.

Church‐Based Social Relationships and Change in Self‐Esteem Over Time

Abstract: This study has two goals The first goal is to see if church-based social relationships are associated with change in self-esteem Emotional support from fellow church members and having a close personal relationship with God serve as measures of church-based social ties The second goal is to see whether emotional support from fellow church members is more strongly associated with self-esteem than emotional support from secular social network members The data come from an ongoing nationwide survey of older adults The findings reveal that having a close personal relationship with God is associated with a stronger sense of self-esteem at the baseline and follow-up interviews In contrast, emotional support from fellow church members was not associated with self-esteem at either point in time However, emotional support from secular social network members is related to self-esteem at the baseline but not the follow-up interview

Core Religious Beliefs and Providing Support to Others in Late Life.

Abstract: A number of studies suggest that people who have strong social support systems at church tend to enjoy better mental and physical health. Yet little is known about the factors that promote strong church-based social support networks. The purpose of this study is to show that key religious beliefs may have something to do with it. A new construct—spiritual connectedness-is introduced for this purpose. Spiritual connectedness refers to an awareness of the bond that exists among all people (...)

Witnessing Violence Across the Life Course, Depressive Symptoms, and Alcohol Use Among Older Persons

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to see whether witnessing a very violent act at any point in the life course is associated with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in late life. The data come from a nationwide probability sample of older adults (N = 1,498). The findings reveal that witnessing violence is associated with more symptoms of depression for older women but not older men. In contrast, seeing a violent act is associated with greater alcohol consumption for older men but not older women. The results further indicate that age at first exposure to a violent act is not consistently associated with current depression or alcohol intake, suggesting that people who see something violent happen at any time in life may be at risk. The implications of these findings for designing interventions to help those who witness violent acts are discussed.

Close Companion Friends in Church and Health in Late Life.

Abstract: This study has two principal aims. The first goal is to empirically evaluate new measures of close companion friendships that arise in church. The second goal is to embed these measures in a conceptual model that seeks to assess the relationship between close companion friends at church and health. Based on data from a nationwide sample of older people, the findings reveal that the newly devised measures are psychometrically sound. In addition, the results provide empirical support for the following linkages that are contained in our conceptual model: older people who have a close companion friend at church are more likely to feel they belong in their congregation; old adults who believe they belong in their congregation are more likely to feel grateful to God; and older individuals who feel grateful to God tend to rate their health more favorably.

Religion and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life

Abstract: /////////////~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of this chapter is to examine select issues in the relationship between religion and depressive symptoms among older adults. The discus- sion that follows addresses three main issues. First, data on the prevalence of depression and depressive symptomatology are examined. Following this, research on religion and depression is reviewed briefl y. Finally, an eff ort is made to contribute to the literature on religion and depression by empirically evaluating a facet of religion that has received relatively little attention in this context: religious meaning.