Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Protective Role of Religiosity among African Americans

Abstract

Several lines of evidence suggest that there is a significant relationship between religiosity, socioeconomic status (SES), and health. In the past, researchers have grown more interested in the protective factors of religiosity and spirituality on negative health outcomes; however, these studies have focused mostly on religious attendance as a way of measuring religiosity and focused on health outcomes limited to mental health. The current study adds to exiting literature by using a more spiritual-based measure of religiosity (daily guidance and coping) and examining how this form of religiosity is associated with physical health. The current study examined the associations between SES, religiosity, and health among African Americans and tested the moderating effects of daily guidance and coping (DGC), religious salience, and religious attendance for these participants (n = 295). Data from The Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (2012-2013) was used to test the current hypotheses. Results indicated that the relationship between SES and health was moderated by DGC and religious salience.