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Relationship between religiosity, religious coping and socio-demographic variables among out-patients with depression or diabetes mellitus in Enugu, Nigeria.
Amadi, Kennedy U.; Uwakwe, Richard; Ndukuba, Appolos C.; Odinka, Paul C.; Igwe, Monday N.; Obayi, Nicodemus K. & Ezeme, Mark S.
Abstract
Background: Religion is a powerful coping strategy. Diabetes and depression are common conditions in our environment that
induce psychological distress, thus requiring coping for better outcome. Studies indicate that increased religiosity is associated
with better outcome in clinical and general populations. Therefore, studies of the distribution of religiosity and religious coping
among these populations are essential to improve outcome.
Objectives: To assess the association between religiosity, religious coping in depression and diabetes mellitus, and selected sociodemographic
variables (age, gender and occupational status).
Methods:Using simple random sampling we recruited 112 participants with diabetes and an equal number with depression
consecutively, matching for gender. Religiosity was determined using religious orientation scale (revised), religious coping with
brief religious coping scale and socio-demographic variables with a socio-demographic questionnaire.
Results: Intrinsic religiosity was greater among older people with depression than among older people with
diabetes(t=5.02,p<0.001); no significant difference among young people with depression and diabetes(t=1.47,p=0.15).Positive
religious coping was greater among older people with depression than among older people with diabetes(t=2.31,p=0.02);
no difference among young people with depression and diabetes(t=0.80,p=0.43). Females with depression had higher intrinsic
religiosity scores than males with depression(t=3.85,p<0.001); no difference in intrinsic religiosity between females and males
with diabetes(t=0.99,p=0.32).Positive religious coping was greater among participants with diabetes in the low occupational
status(t=2.96,p<0.001) than those in the high occupational status.
Conclusion: Religion is indeed a reliable coping method, most commonly used by the elderly and females with depression. Positive
religious coping is more common among diabetic patients who are in the low occupational status.
Keywords
Religiosity; religious coping; depression; diabetes mellitus; socio-demographic variables
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