Religious Attendance, Spirituality, and Major Depression in Canada: A 14-Year Follow-up Study

Objective: Although there have been numerous studies on the relation of religion or spirituality and major depression, few used a longitudinal, nationally representative sample. Our study sought to examine the effect of religious attendance, self-declared importance of spiritual values, and self-identification as a spiritual person on major depression. Method: Data coming from 8 waves (1994 to 2008) of the longitudinal Canadian National Population Health Survey were used. People (n = 12 583) who were not depressed at baseline (1994) were followed during 14 years. Depression at each cycle was assessed using the Composite International Interview Short Form for Major Depression. Weibull proportional hazards regression was used to model longitudinal risk of depression, with religious attendance or spirituality as a predictor. Results: At baseline, monthly religious attenders tended to be older, female, and married, compared with occasional and nonattenders. The Weibull regression model revealed a 22% lower risk of depression for monthly attenders (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% Cl 0.63 to 0.95), compared with nonattenders, after controlling for age, household income, family and personal history of depression, marital status, education, and perceived social support. Neither self-reported importance of spiritual values nor identification as a spiritual person was related to major depressive episodes. Conclusion: Attending religious services at least monthly has a protective effect against major depression.