Abstract
An examination of the role of religious belief & behaviors in managing depression in a sample of 850 medically ill males age 65+, consecutively admitted to a southern US hospital. Ss were interviewed for coping techniques & religious affiliation, & depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale & Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Findings show that men from conservative, black, & fundamentalist Protestant denominations were especially likely to use religious coping (RC). Older age, black race, retirement status, social support, & history of psychiatric problems were correlated with RC strategies. RC index scores were inversely correlated with Hamilton depression scale scores. No significant relation was found between RC & functional status. 6 Tables, 38 References. I. Shagrir