Major depression, religious attendance and mediation of social support among Asian americans in the u.s

Despite the increasing Asian American population, little research has been done regarding religious involvement as a protective role in mental health among Asian Americans. We addressed this gap using the National Latino and Asian American Study (n=2095), the first national epidemiological household survey of Asian Americans in the U.S. We examined the effect of religious involvement on major depression among Asian Americans, above and beyond the effects of known predictors (i.e. Demographics, discrimination and acculturation factors). Of significance is the mechanism of social support between religious factors and major depression. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict the presence of the diagnosis over the past year, using the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview, similar to the DSM-IV criteria. Results showed employment status and English proficiency were associated with less depression, whereas years in the U.S. and discrimination were both associated with more depression. After controlling for these variables, religious attendance, but not religious coping, predicted less depression. Our findings suggest that religious attendance may act as a protective factor for Asian Americans' mental health. Furthermore, entry of social support eliminated the influence of religious attendance, indicating its mediation in the attendance-depression link. This study may be the first of its kind to examine religious factors with major depression in Asian Americans using the NLAAS. However, future research should examine more closely this study longitudinally. Implications for culturally appropriate mental health services are also discussed.