Religiosity and well-being of older adults in Chennai, India

Abstract

Objectives: Using the theory of religious effects (Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 42, 17–30 (2003)), the current study examined the relationship among religiosity, psychosocial resources (social support and mastery) and psychological distress.

Method: Through face-to-face interviewing, data were collected from 321 randomly selected older adults in Chennai, India. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to test the direct-effect and the mediation models. The direct-effect model posited a direct inverse relation between religiosity and psychological distress. The mediation model posited that psychosocial resources mediate the influence of religiosity on psychological distress.

Results: The fit indices supported a partial mediation model. Psychosocial resources partially mediated the influence of religiosity on psychological distress.

Conclusion: These findings suggest the crucial role of religiosity in influencing the well-being of older adults. The need to integrate religiosity in interventions for older Indian adults is discussed.

Keywords:

• religion/spirituality
• social support
• self-efficacy/coping

Notes

CMIN = minimum discrepancy; AGFI = adjusted goodness fit index; CFI = comparative fit index; RMSEA = root mean square error of approximation; SRMR = standardised mean square residual.

**P < .01; *p < .05.