Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/99453975595
Abstract: Depression is a mental health condition associated with a persistent low mood and loss of interest in activities, affecting roughly 18.4% of U.S. adults. Depression is a major contributor to economic costs and is associated with disability, mortality, and morbidity (CDC, 2023). Individuals that have not achieved higher levels of education, such as a bachelor’s degree, are more likely to be vulnerable to depression (Taple et al., 2022) and are more likely to value religiosity (Schwadel, 2015). The present study examined adults aged 39-45 from the 5th wave of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The goals of this analysis included 1) determining whether there is a relationship between religiosity and symptoms of depression in the sample; and 2) determining whether the relationship between religiosity and symptoms of depression differs for individuals that have received a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. The analysis of the data found that there is not a significant relationship between religiosity and symptoms of depression. Further analysis suggests that other variables may predict symptoms of depression, such as income.