Neal Krause1, Kenneth I Pargament2, Gail Ironson3, Peter Hill4. 1. a Department of Health Behavior and Health Education , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA. 2. b Department of Psychology , Bowling Green State University , Bowling Green , Ohio , USA. 3. c Department of Psychology , Miami University , Coral Gables , Florida , USA. 4. d Rosemead School of Psychology , Biola University , La Mirada , California , USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research indicates that greater involvement in religion is associated with lower rates of substance use and misuse. However, religion is a complex construct that can be assessed in many ways. The purpose of this study is to explore a dimension of religion that has not been evaluated in previous research on poly-drug use: a religious sense of meaning in life. OBJECTIVES: It is hypothesized that a religious sense of meaning in life will offset (i.e., moderate) the effects of chronic financial strain on poly-drug use. In order to instill greater confidence in the findings, the moderating role of a religious sense of meaning in life is compared and contrasted with a general sense of meaning in life. METHODS: The data are provided by a recent nationwide survey of adults of all ages in the United States (N = 2,622). The relationships among the core study constructs are evaluated with ordinary least squares multiple regression. RESULTS: The results indicate that a greater religious sense of meaning in life buffers the effects of financial strain on poly-drug use. In contrast, a general sense of meaning in life does not appear to perform a similar stress-buffering function. Conclusions/Importance: The findings from this study are important because they provide greater insight into the potentially important ways in which involvement in religion may be associated with poly-drug use.
BACKGROUND: Research indicates that greater involvement in religion is associated with lower rates of substance use and misuse. However, religion is a complex construct that can be assessed in many ways. The purpose of this study is to explore a dimension of religion that has not been evaluated in previous research on poly-drug use: a religious sense of meaning in life. OBJECTIVES: It is hypothesized that a religious sense of meaning in life will offset (i.e., moderate) the effects of chronic financial strain on poly-drug use. In order to instill greater confidence in the findings, the moderating role of a religious sense of meaning in life is compared and contrasted with a general sense of meaning in life. METHODS: The data are provided by a recent nationwide survey of adults of all ages in the United States (N = 2,622). The relationships among the core study constructs are evaluated with ordinary least squares multiple regression. RESULTS: The results indicate that a greater religious sense of meaning in life buffers the effects of financial strain on poly-drug use. In contrast, a general sense of meaning in life does not appear to perform a similar stress-buffering function. Conclusions/Importance: The findings from this study are important because they provide greater insight into the potentially important ways in which involvement in religion may be associated with poly-drug use.
Keywords:
Religion; meaning in life; poly-drug use; stress
Authors: Karen H K Yeary; Kassandra I Alcaraz; Kimlin Tam Ashing; Chungyi Chiu; Shannon M Christy; Katarina Friberg Felsted; Qian Lu; Crystal Y Lumpkins; Kevin S Masters; Robert L Newton; Crystal L Park; Megan J Shen; Valerie J Silfee; Betina Yanez; Jean Yi Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2020-02-03 Impact factor: 3.046
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