Luisa Franzini, PhD¹, John Ribble, MD¹, and K Wingfield². (1) University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030, 713 500 9487, lfranzini@sph.uth.tmc.edu, (2) Universityo f Texas School of Public health, 1200 Herman Pressler Dr., Houston, TX 77030

The relationship between religiosity and health is multifaceted. This study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the social predictors of organizational and non-organizational religiosity and the relationships between race/ethnicity, social predictors, organizational and non-organizational religiosity, and self-reported health outcomes. Twenty two focus groups were completed and survey data were collected from 3,203 white, black, and Hispanic individuals living in low income neighborhoods in Texas. A simultaneous equations model found that individuals with more social resources tend to have higher organizational religiosity and better health (reflecting the salutary effect of religious attendance), while individuals with fewer social resources tend to have higher non-organizational religiosity and worse health (reflecting religious coping by those facing a more hostile environment). Focus groups results supported these findings. The simultaneous equations model indicates the complexity of the relationships between race/ethnicity, religiosity, and health. Being black is directly associated with lower mental health and self-rated health, however being black is indirectly positively associated with mental health through organized religiosity and indirectly negatively associated with physical and mental health through non-organizational religiosity. Being Hispanic is directly associated with worse self-rated health and is indirectly positively associated with mental health through organizational religiosity.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify dimensions of religiosity.
• Describe the complex relationships between different dimensions of religiosity and health outcomes.
• Discuss potential interventions to improve health through participation in religion. 2.

Keywords: Religion, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.