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Religion as a cross-cultural determinant of depression in elderly Europeans: results from the EURODEP collaboration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2001

A. W. BRAAM ,
P. VAN DEN EEDEN ,
M. J. PRINCE ,
A. T. F. BEEKMAN ,
S.-L. KIVELÄ ,
B. A. LAWLOR ,
A. BIRKHOFER ,
R. FUHRER ,
A. LOBO  and
H. MAGNUSSON
...Show all authors
A. W. BRAAM
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
P. VAN DEN EEDEN
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
M. J. PRINCE
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
A. T. F. BEEKMAN
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
S.-L. KIVELÄ
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
B. A. LAWLOR
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
A. BIRKHOFER
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
R. FUHRER
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
A. LOBO
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
H. MAGNUSSON
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
A. H. MANN
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
I. MELLER
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
M. ROELANDS
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
I. SKOOG
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
C. TURRINA
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
J. R. M. COPELAND
Affiliation:
From the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Social Science Methodology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London and Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool; Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; Department of Psychiatry, Jonathan Swift Clinic, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich and Psychiatrische Klinik und Poliklinik der Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Servicio de Psicosomática, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain; Heilsugœslustö, Grundarfiri, Iceland; Research Group Health and Behaviour, University of Gent, Belgium; Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden; and Clinica Psichiatrica, Ospedale Civile, Brescia, Italy
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Abstract

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Background. The protective effects of religion against late life depression may depend on the broader sociocultural environment. This paper examines whether the prevailing religious climate is related to cross-cultural differences of depression in elderly Europeans.

Methods. Two approaches were employed, using data from the EURODEP collaboration. First, associations were studied between church-attendance, religious denomination and depression at the syndrome level for six EURODEP study centres (five countries, N = 8398). Secondly, ecological associations were computed by multi-level analysis between national estimates of religious climate, derived from the European Value Survey and depressive symptoms, for the pooled dataset of 13 EURODEP study centres (11 countries, N = 17739).

Results. In the first study, depression rates were lower among regular church-attenders, most prominently among Roman Catholics. In the second study, fewer depressive symptoms were found among the female elderly in countries, generally Roman Catholic, with high rates of regular church-attendance. Higher levels of depressive symptoms were found among the male elderly in Protestant countries.

Conclusions. Religious practice is associated with less depression in elderly Europeans, both on the individual and the national level. Religious practice, especially when it is embedded within a traditional value-orientation, may facilitate coping with adversity in later life.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , July 2001 , pp. 803 - 814
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press