Investigando o papel do suporte social na associação entre religiosidade e transtorno mental comum em idosos de baixa renda: resultados do São Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH)

Abstract

Religiosity has been linked to mental and physical health with special relevance in regards to the elderly population. There exists a lack of studies approaching the mediators of such a link, including social support. Aim: To analyze the link between religiosity dimensions and the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) amongst the elderly, and to test the social support as an explanatory mechanism of the alleged link. Method: From a sample of a study representing the elderly population of a low income area in São Paulo (N=1,980) social-demographic data, social support, indicators of religiosity and the prevalence of CMD were collected. Results: 90.7% of the people who took part in the study considered themselves religious. 66.6% Catholic. 41.2% attend some kind of religious activity one or more times per week. 84.1% do not participate in activities at any social institutions. The presence of CMD was not linked to religious affiliation but there was a tendency to an inverted correlation between considering oneself religious (r=-0, 04, p=0, 06). The prevalence of CMD in those who attend religious services was of approximately half (or between 0.43 and 0.55, p<0.001) of those who never do. Such a link between higher attendance and less CMD did not suffer relevant alterations after the inclusion of the social support variables. Conclusion: The study showed high levels of religiosity, a strong association between religious frequency and a lower prevalence of CMD, which was not explained by the social support.