RELIGIOSITY AND PERCEIVED STRESS - A COMMUNITY SURVEY

Data from a random digit dialing telephone survey of 502 adults residing in a nonmetropolitan northern California community were used to examine the association of religiosity and perceived stress. Religion variables included importance of religion, Christian rebirth, affiliation, and frequency of attendance. A question from the national Harris Poll was used to assess perceived stress. Greater church attendance showed a weak significant individual association with perceived stress, and significant interactions were found between importance of religion and both Christian rebirth and attendance. Findings are discussed in terms of attribution and social support theories.