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christian counseling today Vol. 21 no. 2 85
in one-on-one interviews and provided
information on measures of religious
coping, optimism, life satisfaction, and
mental health symptoms.
The researchers explored whether
religious coping influences better out-
comes through optimism. Optimism
refers to the “expectation of good out-
comes in life” (p. 92). They proposed
and found support for a model in which
optimism mediated the effect of religious
coping on mental health concerns. To
mediate the effect of religious coping on
mental health concerns is to suggest an
underlying process by which religious
coping impacts mental health concerns.
Part of that underlying process appears
to be optimism. In short, “Positive
religious coping appears associated
with decreases in psychological distress
through increases in optimism, but nega-
tive religious coping appears associated
with increased psychological distress
through decreases in optimism” (p. 96).
Researchers also examined whether
optimism mediated the relationship
between religious coping and life satis-
faction and found support for an indi-
rect relationship that “positive religious
coping appears to be indirectly related to
increases in life satisfaction by increas-
ing optimism, and negative religious
coping appears to be indirectly related to
decreases in life satisfaction by decreas-
ing optimism” (p. 96). Again, when the
researchers discuss optimism as medi-
ating the effect of religious coping on
life satisfaction, they are suggesting an
underlying process by which religious
coping impacts life satisfaction. Part of
the underlying process appears to be
optimism.
As the authors note, these are
important findings, particularly when
we consider a population that may be at
greater risk of despair and as we think
about providing services in a way that
promotes a positive view of one’s life. A
religious frame of reference may provide
a more positive context for viewing one’s
life circumstances.
Religion, Social Support and
Suicidality among Older Adults
Rushing, N.C., Corsentino, E., Hames, J.L.,
Sachs-Ericsson, N., & Steffens, D.C. (2013).
The relationship of religious involvement
indicators and social support to current and
past suicidality among depressed older adults.
Aging & Mental Health, 17 (3), 366-374. Doi:
10.1080/13607863.2012.738414.
Nicole Rushing and her colleagues
examined the relationship between reli-
gious involvement and suicidal ideation
among older adults. Participants in the
study were adults 59 or older who pre-
sented for either inpatient or outpatient
services at the Duke University Medical
Center or the Duke General Internal
Medicine Clinic in North Carolina and
met criteria for major depression. Nearly
250 older adults met criteria and were
participants in the study (N = 248).
Participants took part in interviews
and provided information on religious
involvement, suicidal ideation and past
attempts, and social support.
Most of the sample identified as
white (87%) and female (68%). The
average age of participants was 70.
Fewer than 10% (9.3%) had attempted
suicide in the past.
The results of the study were that
greater frequency of religious service
attendance was associated with less sui-
cidal ideation (above and beyond social
support and private religious practices,
as well as religious importance). Social
support was also examined and “associ-
ated with lower levels of current suicidal
ideation and partially mediated the rela-
tionship between public religious activ-
ity and suicidal ideation” (p. 371).
As the researchers note, by looking
at different aspects of religiosity (e.g.,
religious attendance, private practices,
and social support), the study is able to
parse out and provide support for the
view that “opportunities for social sup-
port that church attendance provides, at
least in part, account for the relationship
between religiosity and lower suicide
risk” (p. 371).
The researchers make an interesting
observation that future study exam-
ining religious involvement should
distinguish frequency of attendance
and degree of participation. A person
may be motivated to attend services for
many different reasons, which could be
explored in greater detail in future lines
of research. ✠
Mark A. Yarhouse,
Psy.D., is the Rosemarie
Scotti Hughes Chair
of Christian Thought in
Mental Health Practice and
Professor of Psychology
at Regent University, where he directs the
Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity
). He is author or
co-author of several books, including
Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide
for Parents, Pastors, and Friends.