Religion and mental health among older adults: ethnic differences in Malaysia

Abstract

Objectives

Religion and spirituality gain importance as a person ages. Research has shown that religion has a salutary effect on mental health, and it is associated with health differently across ethnic groups. The current study examined ethnic differences in the association between religion and mental health among older adults in a predominantly Muslim population and multicultural setting.

Methods

Data of 7068 participants (4418 Malays, 2080 Chinese and 570 Indians) aged ≥55 years that were collected as part of the community health survey conducted in 2013 in the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) were analyzed using bivariate and multiple regressions. Analyses were stratified by ethnicity.

Results

The importance of having an enriched religious/spiritual life was associated with higher scores of depression, anxiety and stress among Chinese and higher score of depression among Malays, while belief in a higher power was associated with better mental health among Malays, Chinese and Indians.

Conclusion

The current study showed that there were ethnic variations in the associations between religion and mental health, and the associations depended on the religious variable included in the analysis. The findings of this study showed that religion could be another potential channel to improve mental health among older adults by accommodating and understanding their religious beliefs.

Keywords:

• Religion
• spirituality
• older adults
• mental health
• ethnic differences

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the SEACO Field Team and members of the SEACO Scientific Advisory Group.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

MM Tan, TT Su, P Allotey and D Reidpath conceptualized and planned the study; MM Tan conducted statistical analyses and wrote the manuscript in consultation with TT Su; TT Su verified the analytical methods and revised the paper; RSK Ting revised the paper; all authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.

Data availability statement

Data are available on request from the corresponding author, MM Tan, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the John Templeton Foundation (Grant number: 60839), “Religion and physical and mental health among elderly in a predominantly Muslim and multicultural community: the causal linkages.”